Team USA managed to withstand a dramatic late rally from Team Europe and clinched the Junior Soliman Cup with a slim 13‑11 triumph on Dutch soil. The American side, led by Morgan Pressel, had built a commanding seven‑point cushion after the first day, meaning they only needed 2.5 points on the final singles day at Bernardus Golf to keep the trophy and three points to win it outright.
The pressure was reminiscent of the situation the European squad faced in last year’s Ryder Cup, when they fought back to hold on for a win. This time, however, the Americans were forced to dig deep as Anne van Dam’s European contingent surged, threatening a historic comeback that could have rewritten the tournament narrative. On Sunday, Europe captured 8.5 of the 12 points on offer, turning the match into a nail‑biting affair.
England’s Annabel Peaford sparked the comeback by winning three of her last four holes to edge world‑number‑one Asterisk Talley 1‑up in the opening match, though the Europeans ultimately fell to a second consecutive loss in the competition. Pressel praised her squad, saying, "Coaching a group of players with this level of talent is a privilege, but what really stands out is their ability to stay clutch when the stakes are highest.
Watching both teams battle with such heart was a joy." The prospect of a home‑team comeback seemed slim when Eliana Saga secured a 4&3 victory over Adriana Garcia Terol and Madeleine Conser beat Lana Guyot 5&4, narrowing the gap to just half a point. Talley, who had appeared set to earn the United States’ first point of the day after leading 2‑up with four holes to play, saw her advantage evaporate when Peaford parred the 15th, birdied the 16th and then won the next two holes, snatching a stunning win for Europe. Lauren Crump responded by defeating Amber Lee 3&2, while Anna Ludvova claimed three consecutive holes around the turn to beat Grace Carter 2&1. Lena Geier also clinched a decisive final‑hole win over Aubrey Hilgers, adding another point to Europe’s tally.
Further European resilience came from Sofia Maier‑Borst and Axelle Guillemard, who beat Amelie Zalsman and Honorine Ferry respectively, keeping alive the slim chance of an upset. The tide, however, turned when Kelly Zhang secured the decisive point for the United States with a 2‑up victory over Carolina Perez‑Tasso.
Carlota Lopez Minguela wrapped up a 3&2 win against Iris Lee, and Marta Munoz birdied the penultimate hole to halve her match with Anna Fang. Europe narrowed the margin once more when Alice Kong won on the final hole against Lily Peng. Van Dam summed up the emotions of the day, stating, "I’m incredibly proud of our girls.
They gave everything they had, and even though the U.S. team was exceptional, our players left the course smiling because they fought with everything they possessed." Sky Sports Golf provided extensive coverage of the event, broadcasting at least 12 hours of live action across the first two days.
The tournament kicked off at 6 a.m. local time on Friday and Saturday, with the opening foursomes teeing off at 6:40 a.m. (7:40 a.m. CET).
Afternoon four‑ball matches began at 12:05 p.m. (1:05 p.m. CET) each day, and coverage continued through the final putt. Sunday’s singles matches started at 9 a.m., with the first tee shot at 10:10 a.m.
Sky Sports+ streamed the closing ceremony live at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, following the crowning of the Junior Solheim Cup champions. The opening ceremony on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. introduced the first‑day pairings.
Fans eager to see whether Europe can reclaim the Solheim Cup can follow the entire three‑day showdown live on Sky Sports Golf from September 11‑13. Those without a Sky subscription can explore the latest Sky Sports deals or stream the action without a contract on NOW. Golf enthusiasts can also find the best rates and book a round at any of the 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland.
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