Anne Van Dam, captain of Team Europe for the PING Junior Solheim Cup, is confident in her squad’s ability to reclaim the trophy from the United States at Bernardus Golf this week. She emphasized that her players are prepared to “fight to the last putt” for the victory.
Twelve of Europe’s premier golfers, aged 12 to 18, are preparing to face Team USA in the PING Junior Solheim Cup, scheduled for September 7 and 8 at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands.
The junior tournament precedes the Solheim Cup, which begins on September 11.
Team Europe last won the PING Junior Solheim Cup in Spain in 2023
This year marks the first occasion where both the PING Junior Solheim Cup and the Solheim Cup will be contested on the same course during the same week.
Additionally, the 2026 event will see Van Dam concurrently serve as both the PING Junior Solheim Cup captain and a Solheim Cup vice-captain for Anna Nordqvist—a historic first.
Bronte Law, a former PING Junior Solheim Cup teammate of Van Dam, will serve as the vice-captain for the European squad.
Morgan Pressel captains Team USA, who enter the tournament as favorites. They are aiming to defend their title following their triumph at the Army-Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia, in 2024.
Despite the formidable American lineup, Van Dam remains optimistic about her team’s prospects.
“My team are all fighters,” Van Dam stated. “One thing they have in common is they all have big personalities and very feisty attitudes.
“I know they will fight hard to the last putt. That’s sometimes a very hard thing to teach someone. You either have that, or you don’t. Everyone on our team has that.
“I’m very excited to see that come out and have them fight for it. I know Europe is a little bit behind, maybe in the total standings, and I would love for them to catch up.”
Team USA are out to defend their title, after winning the PING Junior Solheim Cup in 2024
Team USA currently leads the all-time PING Junior Solheim Cup series with an 8-4-1 record. However, Team Europe secured a decisive 15-9 victory the last time the teams competed on European soil in Spain during 2023.
“I’m very excited for the next couple of days and to follow them throughout the rest of their careers. There’s a lot of superstars on the team,” Van Dam added.
“I can tell from the moment I started talking to my players how much they are looking forward to the opportunity to hopefully learn a lot from me and Bronte [Law].
“For them, playing on the same venue as the Solheim Cup is groundbreaking.”
Key European Contenders
England’s Lauren Crump qualified automatically to represent Team Europe
The top six European players in the PING Junior Solheim Cup rankings secured automatic qualification following the conclusion of the R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship in August.
Van Dam named Spain’s Marta Muñoz as one of her six captain’s picks after Muñoz defeated compatriot Adriana García Terol in the 36-hole final of the R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship. García Terol also secured an automatic spot on Team Europe via the rankings, along with Switzerland’s Lana Guyot, who advanced to the semi-finals of the same championship.
England’s Lauren Crump, winner of the Annika Invitational Europe in Sweden this past June, also qualified through the rankings. She is joined by fellow English player Annabel Peaford, who was chosen as a captain’s pick.
Team Europe
- Anna Ludvová, Czech Republic (Q)
- Adriana García Terol, Spain (Q)
- Lena Geier, Germany (Q)
- Sofía Maier-Borst, Germany (Q)
- Lauren Crump, England (Q)
- Lana Guyot, Switzerland (Q)
- Axelle Guillemard, France (CP)
- Alice Kong, France (CP)
- Carlota López Minguela, Spain (CP)
- Marta Muñoz, Spain (CP)
- Annabel Peaford, England (CP)
- Carolina Pérez-Tasso, Spain (CP)
- *(Q) denotes automatic qualifier; (CP) denotes captain’s pick
Key American Contenders
Asterisk Talley won the US Women’s Amateur Championship in August
Asterisk Talley, a veteran of the 2023 and 2024 Team USA squads, leads Pressel’s roster. Currently ranked No. 1 in the Rolex American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) rankings, Talley has enjoyed a stellar year, highlighted by a victory at the US Women’s Amateur Championship in August.
Amelie Zalsman has showcased impressive form in 2026, securing top-five finishes in all her AJGA starts this season and finishing as the runner-up at the US Girls’ Junior Championship in July.
Anna Fang, who contributed to Team USA’s 2024 PING Junior Solheim Cup victory, has climbed to 52nd in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings. Her successful past year includes a runner-up finish at the 2025 Rolex Tournament of Champions.
Team USA
- Asterisk Talley, California (Q)
- Amelie Zalsman, Florida (Q)
- Eliana Saga, California (Q)
- Lily Peng, California (Q)
- Anna Fang, California (Q)
- Honorine Ferry, Texas (Q)
- Kelly Zhang, California (Q)
- Grace Carter, Florida (Q)
- Madeleine Conser, Oregon (CP)
- Iris Lee, Florida (CP)
- Amber Lee, California (CP)
- Aubrey Hilgers, Arizona (CP)
- *(Q) denotes automatic qualifier; (CP) denotes captain’s pick
Notable Alumni of the PING Junior Solheim Cup
European captain Van Dam and vice-captain Law both competed in the 2013 PING Junior Solheim Cup, bringing a wealth of experience to the European squad.
Prominent Team USA professionals Nelly Korda, Lexi Thompson, and Alison Lee are all past participants of the junior event.
Notable European alumni include Charley Hull, Georgia Hall, and 2026 Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist.
Tournament Schedule and Format
Monday, September 7: Six four-ball matches and six foursomes matches
Tuesday, September 8: 12 singles matches
Also Read
- Lucknow Falcons vs Meerut Mavericks: UPT20 League 2026 Final Live Stream and Broadcast Information
- WSL Mystery Challenge: Identify the Star in Three Clues or Less
- Sheldon Creed Dominates Darlington to Open Chase Era and Narrow Championship Gap
- O’Reilly Chase Intensifies: Sheldon Creed’s Darlington Win Shifts Points Battle