Anne Van Dam, the PING Junior Solheim Cup captain for Team Europe, is confident that her young squad has a realistic shot at reclaiming the trophy from the United States this week at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands. Van Dam emphasized that her players possess the tenacity to "fight to the last putt," a mindset she believes will be decisive in a tightly contested event. The competition will feature twelve of Europe’s most promising golfers, all aged between 12 and 18, who will square off against their American counterparts on September 7 and 8. The Junior Solheim Cup is scheduled just three days before the senior Solheim Cup opens on September 11, with both tournaments being broadcast live on Sky Sports.
This marks the first occasion that the junior and senior versions of the Solheim Cup share the same venue and week, creating a unique atmosphere for players and fans alike. In addition to her captaincy duties, Van Dam will serve as a vice‑captain for the senior Solheim Cup team, supporting Anna Nordqvist, who will lead Europe’s senior side. This dual role is unprecedented in the history of the event. Former teammate Bronte Law will assist Van Dam as her vice‑captain for the junior squad, bringing additional experience and insight to the team’s leadership.
Team USA will be led by former professional Morgan Pressel, who entered the competition as the favorite after guiding the Americans to a win at the Army‑Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia, in 2024. The United States will be looking to defend their title and extend their overall lead in the series, which currently stands at eight wins for the Americans, four for Europe, and one tie. Despite the formidable reputation of the American side, Van Dam remains optimistic. "All of my players are fighters," she said.
"They each have big personalities and a feisty attitude. I know they will battle hard right to the last putt.
That kind of grit isn’t something you can teach – you either have it or you don’t, and every member of our team has it." Van Dam also noted that Europe is slightly behind the United States in the cumulative points tally, but she is eager to see her squad close the gap. "I’m excited to watch them give everything they have and to see Europe catch up," she added. The most recent meeting between the two teams on European soil took place in Spain in 2023, where Europe triumphed with a 15‑9 victory. That win remains fresh in the memory of many of the current players, who view the upcoming matches as an opportunity to repeat that success on home ground.
Selection for Team Europe was based largely on performance in the PING Junior Solheim Cup rankings after the R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship in August. The top six players earned automatic spots, while Van Dam exercised her captain’s picks to round out the roster. Among her selections were Spain’s Marta Muñoz, who captured the R&A Girls’ Amateur title by defeating Adriana García Terol in a 36‑hole final, and England’s Lauren Crump, the Annika Invitational Europe champion. Van Dam also chose Annabel Peaford and Bronte Law as additional picks, valuing their experience and leadership potential.
The American roster includes standout talents such as Asterisk Talley, the reigning number‑one in the Rolex American Junior Golf Association rankings and a recent US Women’s Amateur champion. Amelie Zalsman has been in strong form, posting multiple top‑five finishes on the AGJA circuit and finishing runner‑up at the US Girls’ Junior Championship.
Anna Fang, a former Junior Solheim Cup winner in 2024, has risen to 52nd in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings after a solid season that featured a runner‑up finish at the Rolex Tournament of Champions. Both captains bring a wealth of personal experience to the event. Van Dam and Law both competed in the 2013 Junior Solheim Cup, giving them insight into the pressures young players face. On the American side, former Junior Solheim Cup alumni such as Nelly Korda, Lexi Thompson, and Alison Lee have gone on to successful professional careers, underscoring the tournament’s reputation as a breeding ground for future stars.
European alumni include Charley Hull, Georgia Hall, and Anna Nordqvist herself, who will captain the senior team later in the week. The format for the two‑day junior event consists of six four‑ball matches and six foursomes matches on Monday, September 7, followed by twelve singles matches on Tuesday, September 8.
Each match contributes a point toward the team total, with the first side to reach 13½ points claiming the cup. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports Golf, which will also broadcast the senior Solheim Cup from September 11‑13.
The shared venue and back‑to‑back scheduling promise an electric atmosphere, as the junior players get a rare glimpse of the senior competition and the chance to soak in the same course conditions that will later decide the senior title. Beyond the competition itself, the event offers a developmental platform for the next generation of women’s golfers. Playing on a world‑class course like Bernardus Golf, alongside seasoned professionals, provides invaluable experience that can shape careers.
Van Dam highlighted this, stating, "For many of these girls, playing on the same venue as the Solheim Cup is groundbreaking. It shows them what’s possible and inspires them to aim higher." As the teams prepare for the opening foursomes, the excitement builds. The combination of seasoned leadership, youthful vigor, and the historic setting makes this Junior Solheim Cup a compelling preview of the future of women’s golf.
Whether Europe can overturn the United States’ historical advantage remains to be seen, but Van Dam’s belief in her squad’s fighting spirit suggests a fiercely contested battle that will likely be decided on the very last putt.