Team USA managed to repel a dramatic final‑day rally from Team Europe and held on to the Junior Solheim Cup, edging out the visitors by a slim 13‑11 margin on Dutch soil. The Americans entered the Sunday singles at Bernardus Golf with a comfortable seven‑point cushion after a dominant first day, meaning they needed just 2.5 points to guarantee retention of the trophy and three points to claim outright victory.
That target mirrored the pressure faced by the European team in last year’s Ryder Cup, when they clung to a narrow win despite a massive challenge. This time, however, the pressure fell on the home side as Anne van Dam’s Europeans surged, threatening to rewrite the record books with a comeback that would have been historic for junior competition. On Sunday, Europe captured eight and a half of the twelve points on offer. England’s Annabel Peaford set the tone early, winning three of her last four holes to defeat world‑number‑one Asterisk Talley 1‑up in the opening match.
Peaford’s comeback win sparked hope, but the Europeans soon suffered a second consecutive loss in the team tally. "Coaching a group this talented is a privilege," Pressel remarked after the final round. "They also thrive under pressure and deliver when it matters most. Watching both sides was a joy – every player showed incredible heart." The possibility of a home‑team turnaround seemed slim when Eliana Saga posted a 4&3 victory over Adriana Garcia Terol and Madeleine Conser beat Lana Guyot 5&4, narrowing the gap to just half a point away from retaining the cup.
Talley appeared poised to secure the United States’ first point of the day, leading 2‑up with four holes remaining. Yet Peaford steadied herself, making par on the 15th, birdie on the 16th, and then taking the next two holes to snatch a remarkable 1‑up win, swinging momentum back toward Europe. Lauren Crump defeated Amber Lee 3‑2, while Anna Ludvova dominated Grace Carter, winning three straight holes around the turn and finishing 2‑1.
Lena Geier clinched a decisive final‑hole win over Aubrey Hilgers, adding another point to Europe’s tally. Sofia Maier‑Borst and Axelle Guillemard each beat their American opponents, Amélie Zalsman and Honorine Ferry, keeping alive the slim chance of a European upset.
The decisive moment arrived when Kelly Zhang secured the winning point for the United States, beating Carolina Perez‑Tasso 2‑up and sealing the overall 13‑11 result. Carlota Lopez Minguela wrapped up a 3‑2 victory over Iris Lee, and Marta Muñoz birdied the penultimate hole to halve her match with Anna Fang. Europe continued to chip away at the margin when Alice Kong won on the final hole against Lily Peng.
Van Dam expressed pride in her side despite the loss: "I’m incredibly proud; I couldn’t have asked for more from these girls tonight. It’s tough – the U.S. team is phenomenal, but our players gave everything and that’s why they’re still smiling after the match." Sky Sports Golf devoted extensive coverage to the event, broadcasting at least twelve hours of live action over the first two days. Coverage began at 6 a.m.
on Friday and Saturday, leading up to the opening foursomes tee‑off at 6:40 a.m. (7:40 a.m.
local time). The afternoon four‑ball sessions started at 12:05 p.m.
(1:05 p.m. local time) on both days, with commentary continuing through the final putt. Sunday’s singles matches were televised from 9 a.m., with the first tee‑off 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 wondering who will claim the senior Solheim Cup can follow Team Europe’s quest to regain the trophy with exclusive live coverage on Sky Sports. All three days of the event – September 11‑13 – will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf.
For viewers without a Sky subscription, the latest Sky Sports offers and streaming options on NOW TV provide contract‑free access to the action. Golf enthusiasts can also take advantage of special rates to book a round at any of the 1,700 courses across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Simply enter a course name, city, or postcode to find the best deals and secure a tee time near you.