Team USA managed to fend off a dramatic late‑day rally from Team Europe and held on to retain the Junior Solheim Cup, edging out the visitors by a slim 13‑11 margin on Dutch soil. After a dominant first day, Morgan Pressel’s squad entered the final singles session at Bernardus Golf with a comfortable seven‑point cushion, meaning they needed just 2.5 points to guarantee the trophy and three points to win it outright. That scenario mirrored the pressure the European team faced in last year’s Ryder Cup, where they clung to a narrow win, and it set the stage for an intense showdown.
Europe mounted a ferocious comeback on Sunday, capturing 8.5 of the 12 points on offer. England’s Annabel Peaford sparked the rally by winning three of her last four holes to defeat world No. 1 Asterisk Talley 1‑up in the opening match, a result that signaled Europe’s intent.
Despite the early surge, the Europeans ultimately suffered their second consecutive loss of the day, but not before narrowing the gap to a half‑point away from forcing a tie. Pressel praised her squad’s depth and composure, saying, “Coaching a group this talented is a privilege, but what really stands out is how they perform when the stakes are highest.
Both teams showed incredible heart, and it was a joy to watch.” The United States appeared to have the match in hand when Eliana Saga secured a 4‑and‑3 victory over Adriana Garcia Terol and Madeleine Conser beat Lana Guyot 5‑4, bringing the overall score to within a single half‑point of a U.S. retain. Talley seemed poised to earn the first point for the Americans when she led 2‑up with four holes remaining.
However, Peaford responded with a par on the 15th, a birdie on the 16th, and then captured the next two holes to pull off a remarkable 1‑up win, reigniting Europe’s hopes. Lauren Crump contributed a 3‑and‑2 triumph over Amber Lee, while Anna Ludvova seized three consecutive holes around the turn to defeat Grace Carter 2‑1. Lena Geier also clinched a decisive final‑hole win against Aubrey Hilgers, adding another point to Europe’s tally. Further extending the contest, Sofia Maier‑Borst and Axelle Guillemard overcame Amelie Zalsman and Honorine Ferry respectively, keeping alive the possibility of an unlikely European comeback.
The decisive moment arrived when Kelly Zhang delivered a 2‑up victory over Carolina Perez‑Tasso, securing the winning point for Team USA and sealing the 13‑11 final score. In the closing matches, Carlota Lopez Minguela wrapped up a 3‑2 win against Iris Lee, and Marta Munoz birdied the penultimate hole to finish all square with Anna Fang.
Europe continued to chip away at the margin when Alice Kong captured a final‑hole win over Lily Peng, but the gap remained too large to overturn. European captain Anne van Dam expressed pride in her side despite the loss: “I’m incredibly proud of what these girls have done. The U.S.
team is exceptional, but our players gave everything they had and that’s why they’re still smiling tonight.” Sky Sports Golf provided extensive coverage of the event, broadcasting at least 12 hours of live action across the first two days. Coverage began at 6 a.m.
local time on Friday and Saturday, leading into the opening foursomes at 6:40 a.m. (7:40 a.m. local). Afternoon four‑ball sessions started at 12:05 p.m.
(1:05 p.m. local) on both days, with commentary continuing through the final putt. Sunday’s singles matches were televised from 9 a.m., with the first tee shot at 10:10 a.m. Sky Sports+ aired the closing ceremony live at 5:30 p.m.
on Sunday, while the opening ceremony on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. revealed the initial pairings. Fans eager to follow Europe’s quest to reclaim the Junior Soliman Cup can watch the entire three‑day tournament live on Sky Sports Golf from September 11‑13.
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