Team USA managed to repel a dramatic late rally from Team Europe and held on to win the Junior Soliman Cup by a slim 13‑11 margin on Dutch soil. The Americans entered the final day with a comfortable cushion after a dominant first day, but Europe fought back with vigor, making the conclusion a nail‑biting affair.
On the opening day at Bernardus Golf, Morgan Pressel’s squad built a seven‑point advantage, meaning they needed just 2.5 points on Sunday’s singles to guarantee retention of the trophy and three points to claim an outright win. That target mirrored the pressure faced by Europe in the previous year’s Ryder Cup, when the continent clung to a narrow victory. This time, however, the pressure was on the visitors, who saw Anne van Dam’s European side threaten a historic comeback.
Europe captured 8.5 of the 12 points available in the Sunday singles, turning the day into a showcase of resilience and clutch performances. England’s Annabel Peaford, for example, rallied spectacularly, winning three of her last four holes to defeat world‑number‑one Asterisk Talley 1‑up in the opening match.
Despite her early success, Peaford ultimately suffered her second consecutive loss of the tournament as the day progressed. Pressel praised her teammates after the final putt fell, saying, “It’s easy to coach a group this talented.
They stay composed when the stakes are highest, and watching both sides was a joy – every player showed tremendous heart.” The possibility of a home‑team comeback seemed slim when Eliana Saga secured a 4&3 win over Adriana Garcia Terol and Madeleine Conser defeated Lana Guyot 5&4, narrowing the gap to just half a point. Talley appeared poised to earn the United States’ first point of the day, leading 2‑up with four holes remaining.
Yet Peaford steadied herself, making par on the 15th, birdieing the 16th, and then taking the next two holes to snatch a remarkable 1‑up victory. Other key matches included Lauren Crump’s 3&2 triumph over Amber Lee and Anna Ludvova’s dominant stretch of three consecutive holes around the turn, which secured a 2&1 win against Grace Carter.
Lena Geier also contributed by clinching a decisive final‑hole win over Aubrey Hilgers, adding another point to Europe’s tally. Sofia Maier‑Borst and Axelle Guillemard each overcame Amelie Zalsman and Honorine Ferry, respectively, keeping alive the faint hope of a European upset. The decisive moment arrived when Kelly Zhang delivered the winning point for the United States, beating Carolina Perez‑Tasso 2‑up.
In the closing matches, Carlota Lopez Minguela wrapped up a 3&2 victory over Iris Lee, while Marta Munoz birdied the penultimate hole to halve her match with Anna Fang. Europe continued to chip away at the margin when Alice Kong secured a final‑hole win against Lily Peng, but the United States’ lead proved insurmountable.
Van Dam reflected on the outcome, stating, “I’m incredibly proud of our girls. It was a tough battle; the U.S. team is phenomenal, 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 twelve hours of live action over the first two days. Coverage began 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. local).
Afternoon four‑ball sessions started at 12:05 p.m. (1:05 p.m. local) on both days, and the network stayed on air until the final putt was holed.
Sunday’s singles matches were televised from 9 a.m., with the first tee shot at 10:10 a.m. Sky Sports+ streamed the closing ceremony live from 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, following the crowning of the Junior Solheim Cup champions. The opening ceremony, held on Thursday at 4:30 p.m., revealed the initial pairings for the competition.
Fans eager to follow Europe’s quest to reclaim the trophy can watch the entire three‑day tournament 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 via NOW. For golfers looking to play on some of the finest courses in the UK and Ireland, bookings are available at over 1,700 venues. Simply enter a course name, city, or postal code to find the best rates and secure a tee time.