The United States’ Alison Lee may be a Solheim Cup rookie this year, but she is far from inexperienced when it comes to international match play competition.
The 20-year-old from Valencia, Calif., is no stranger to playing for her country thanks to the PING Junior Solheim Cup, an event that has gained notoriety in the industry as a pipeline to the Solheim Cup. Lee was a star for the U.S. in the PING Junior Solheim Cup – which features the world’s top junior girls age 12-18 – in 2009, 2011 and 2013, so she should be considered anything but a weak link for this year’s U.S. Solheim Cup Team.
Lee isn’t the only former PING Junior Solheim Cup participant to move on to play in the preeminent international match play event in women’s professional golf. In fact, the trend is becoming more and more common.
Of the 24 players in next week’s Solheim Cup, 13 have PING Junior Solheim Cup experience, proof of how crucial match-play experience is for a player’s development as a junior. Paula Creamer is the leader in terms of total events played with eight, having competed in the PING Junior Solheim Cup in 2002 and 2003, the past five Solheim Cups and qualifying for the U.S. squad again in 2015.
Brittany Lincicome (2002-03 PING Jr./2007-15 Solheim) and Morgan Pressel (2002 and 2005 PING Jr./2007-15 Solheim) are second with seven total qualifications, while Azahara Munoz of Spain is next as the top European with six total (2002-03 and 2005 PING Jr./2011-15 Solheim). Brittany Lang (2002 PING Jr./2009-15 Solheim) and Anna Nordqvist (2005 PING Jr./2009-15 Solheim) follow with five apiece, and Carlota Ciganda (2005 and 2007 PING Jr./2013-15 Solheim) and Caroline Hedwall (2007 PING Jr./2011-15 Solheim) are next with four qualifications.
Other players teeing it up next week who have double-dipped in the junior and professional match-play battles are: Lexi Thompson (2011 PING Jr./2013-15 Solheim), Charley Hull (2011 PING Jr./2013-15 Solheim), Caroline Masson (2005 PING Jr./2013-15 Solheim) and Melissa Reid (2005 PING Jr./2011 and 2015 Solheim).
In addition, Jessica Korda (2009 PING Jr./2013 Solheim Cup) and Vicky Hurst (2007 PING Jr./2011 Solheim) from the United States and Beatriz Recari (2005 PING Jr./2011 and 2013 Solheim) for the Europeans have played in both events.
It should be no surprise that one leads to the other, especially when considering the level of talent now common in the junior ranks. So, it is more than reasonable to predict that some of the players who will compete in this year’s PING Junior Solheim Cup event at Golf Club St. Leon-Rot in Germany on Monday and Tuesday will one day represent the U.S. and European squads in future Solheim Cups.
The junior event is not only a top-notch proving ground for young up-and-comers, but is also a precursor of sorts for what is to come in the match play world. The future definitely looks bright.
)
)
)
)
