Team USA managed to repel a stunning late rally from Team Europe and held on to retain the Junior Soliman Cup, edging out the visitors 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 mounted a furious comeback that kept the outcome in doubt until the last putt. On day one, Morgan Pressel's squad surged ahead, building a seven‑point advantage that left them needing only 2.5 points on Sunday’s singles to guarantee they would keep the trophy, and three points to win it outright. That scenario mirrored the pressure Europe faced in the previous year’s Ryder Cup, when the home side clung to a narrow lead and fought back to the very end.
This time, however, the pressure fell on the visitors, who saw their hopes of a historic turnaround rise dramatically as Anne van Dam’s Europeans began to chip away at the lead. Sunday offered twelve points up for grabs, and Europe seized 8.5 of them, turning the contest into a nail‑biting thriller. England’s Annabel Peaford kicked off the day with a dramatic win over world No.
1 Asterisk Talley, coming back from 1‑up down to claim a 1‑up victory after winning three of the last four holes. Her comeback set the tone for a day in which the European side seemed unstoppable. Pressel praised her team’s composure, noting, "It’s easy to coach a group this talented, but they also deliver when it matters most. Watching both sides was a joy; every player showed tremendous heart." The Americans, however, could not afford complacency.
Early in the singles, Eliana Saga produced a convincing 4&3 win over Adriana Garcia Terol, and Madeleine Conser dispatched Lana Guyot 5&4, narrowing the gap to just half a point and making a U.S. comeback appear possible. Talley, who had seemed poised to secure the first point for the United States, was 2‑up with four holes to play.
Yet Peaford steadied herself, making par on the 15th and birdie on the 16th before taking the next two holes to snatch a remarkable victory that swung momentum back toward Europe. Lauren Crump responded for the U.S.
with a 3&2 win over Amber Lee, while Anna Ludvova captured three consecutive holes around the turn to beat Grace Carter 2&1. Lena Geier also contributed, winning on the final hole against Aubrey Hilgers, adding another point to the European tally. The battle continued as Sofia Maier‑Borst and Axelle Guillemard each defeated their opponents, Amelie Zalsman and Honorine Ferry, keeping the dream of a European upset alive.
The decisive moment arrived when Kelly Zhang secured the winning point for Team USA, beating Carolina Perez‑Tasso 2‑up and pushing the overall score to 13‑11 in America’s favour. In the closing matches, Carlota Lopez Minguela wrapped up a 3&2 victory over Iris Lee, and Marta Munoz birdied the penultimate hole to halve her match with Anna Fang. Europe narrowed the margin further when Alice Kong clinched a final‑hole win over Lily Peng, but the earlier gains proved enough for the United States to hold the cup.
Van Dam expressed pride in both camps, saying, "I’m so proud of what the girls have done. It’s tough – the U.S. team is incredible, but our players gave everything and they’re still smiling tonight." The event’s broadcast schedule was highlighted by Sky Sports Golf, which promised at least twelve hours of live coverage across the first two days, beginning at 6 a.m.
local time on Friday and Saturday, with opening foursomes tee‑offs at 6:40 a.m. (7:40 a.m. local). Afternoon four‑ball matches started at 12:05 p.m.
(1:05 p.m. local), and Sunday’s singles began at 9 a.m., leading up to the decisive tee‑off at 10:10 a.m. Sky Sports+ streamed the closing ceremony at 5:30 p.m.
on Sunday, following the crowning of the Junior Soliman Cup winners, while the opening ceremony on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. unveiled the first‑day pairings.
Golf fans were invited to watch Europe’s quest to reclaim the trophy live on Sky Sports, with all three days of action available from September 11‑13. Those without a Sky subscription could explore the latest Sky Sports deals or stream the competition via NOW without a contract. Beyond the competition itself, the coverage included promotional content encouraging viewers to book tee times at any of the 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland, with a search tool for courses by location. While the search returned no results in the example, the platform remains a valuable resource for golfers seeking new venues.
In summary, the Junior Soliman Cup delivered a classic showdown: a dominant early lead, a fierce European surge, and a final‑day heroics that saw Team USA cling to a narrow victory. The event showcased the depth of talent on both sides, the strategic acumen of the captains, and the excitement that junior golf can generate on an international stage.