KUTZTOWN, Penn., Aug. 24, 2003 - LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Famer Juli Inkster is the top points earner for the 2003 U.S. Solheim Cup Team and leads the 12-player squad announced today by U.S. Solheim Cup Captain Patty Sheehan. The Solheim Cup, Sept. 12-14 at Barsebäck Golf and Country Club in Malmo, Sweden, features the 12 best U.S.-born players from the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and the 12 best European-born players from the Evian Ladies European Tour (LET).

Based on the top-10 rankings in the U.S. Solheim Cup points standings at the conclusion of today's Wachovia LPGA Classic hosted by Betsy King, the 10 players who automatically qualified for the U.S. squad, listed in alphabetical order, are: Beth Daniel, Laura Diaz, Inkster, Rosie Jones, Cristie Kerr, Meg Mallon, Michele Redman, Kelly Robbins, Angela Stanford and Wendy Ward. Heather Bowie and Kelli Kuehne complete the 12-person team as Captain Sheehan's two captain's picks.

"This is a fun time for me," said Sheehan after she announced her team. "I have a couple of young players as picks, and we have such depth on our team, such experience and so many great players that I felt that it would be great to have some young new blood and enthusiasm coming from the younger players to sort of inject some adrenaline in our team. We're all very excited to have them as part of our team.

"The Solheim Cup is probably the showcase event for all of women's golf in the world," said Sheehan. "We know that and the players always rise to the occasion and always play incredible exciting golf. I look forward to the experiences being The Solheim Cup Captain for the American side. I have been through it once. It was the most wonderful experience being a winning Captain. And I look forward to bringing the Cup home."

The 2003 U.S. team will include two rookies to the event: Stanford, who is three-year Tour veteran, and Bowie, who is in her fourth year on Tour.

"I am thrilled to be a part of such an amazing team," commented Stanford, who finished eighth in the 2003 Solheim Cup points standings. "Out of the 12 players on the team, 10 have done this before. I'm pretty fortunate to have so many players to talk to for advice. This is an amazing opportunity for me.
"It has been my ultimate goal to play for my country," said Stanford. "You play as an individual all your life and to get a chance to play for a team and your country doesn't come along often."

"I am speechless probably the first time in my life," said Bowie, after being notified she was a captain's selection. "I have cried a lot today. I am just glad that it came true. This is definitely a dream of mine, more so than even winning a golf tournament. I am very excited to get on that plane and go play for my country."

The quest to make the 2003 team began at the 2002 LPGA Takefuji Classic in Hawaii and ended today at the Wachovia LPGA Classic hosted by Betsy King in Kutztown, Penn. Players begin earning points towards the 2005 Solheim Cup at next week's State Farm Classic in Springfield, Ill.

Qualifying points for the U.S. Team are awarded weekly to the top-10 finishers and ties at official LPGA tournaments. Points are doubled at the four major championships every year. The LPGA's four major tournaments are the Kraft Nabisco Championship, McDonald's LPGA Championship Presented by AIG, U.S. Women's Open and the Weetabix Women's British Open. Points for a Solheim Cup year are weighted with 30 points for a win, 15 for second, 13.5 for third, 12 for fourth, 10.5 for fifth and 9, 7.5, 6, 4.5 and 3, for sixth through 10th, respectively.

The Solheim Cup will be televised by The Golf Channel in the United States. The Golf Channel will televise at least 27 hours of live golf during this year's Solheim Cup, plus both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and a 30-minute wrap-up show after the first two days of competition. In addition, The Golf Channel will re-air in primetime three hours of the most compelling portions from each day's competition.

This biennial, trans-Atlantic team match-play competition began in 1990 and is sponsored by PING golf equipment. The Solheim Cup is named in honor of Karsten Solheim and his family. Solheim is the founder of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, which makes PING golf equipment. In 1990, the Solheim family, in conjunction with the LPGA and the then Women Professional Golfers' European Tour, developed the concept and became the title sponsor for The Solheim Cup, professional golf's international match-play competition for women.
Held every two years, the event has grown into a prestigious international women's professional golf event. The Cup is the most highly coveted trophy in women's professional golf team competition; some of the most memorable moments in women's golf have happened during one of The Solheim Cups, and berths on the U.S. and European teams are highly sought after by players from both organizations. The U.S. Team leads 5-2 in the series.

2003 U.S. Solheim Cup Team
Captain: Patty Sheehan, Reno, Nev.
Assistant captain: Jane Geddes, Tampa, Fla.
Automatic qualifiers Final points
1. Juli Inkster (Los Altos, Calif.) 244.00
2. Rosie Jones (Atlanta, Ga.) 208.00
3. Beth Daniel (Delray Beach, Fla.) 156.50
4. Michele Redman (Minneapolis, Minn.) 141.50
Laura Diaz (Fernandina, Fla.) 141.50
6. Cristie Kerr (Miami, Fla.) 129.00
7. Meg Mallon (Ocean Ridge, Fla.) 124.50
8. Angela Stanford (Saginaw, Texas) 81.50
9. Kelly Robbins (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.) 69.50
10. Wendy Ward (San Antonio, Texas) 64.50

Captain's picks
Heather Bowie (Fort Worth, Texas) 58.50
Kelli Kuehne (Dallas, Texas) 43.50

CLICK HERE TO READ QUOTES FROM THE PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE PATTY SHEEHAN ANNOUNCED HER TEAM.