Marks the first time the U.S. team will repeat leadership since 2002-2003
The quartet has a combined 89 LPGA victories and 18 years of Solheim Cup playing experience
DES MOINES, IOWA - August 10, 2016 – U.S. Solheim Cup Team Captain Juli Inkster announced today that Pat Hurst, Wendy Ward and Nancy Lopez will return as assistant captains in 2017. The U.S. will try to defend the Cup on home soil after a historic win in Germany last year when the Americans orchestrated the biggest come-from-behind victory in the event’s history. The 15th staging of the event will be held at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in West Des Moines, Iowa, August 18-20.
The combination of Inkster, Hurst, Ward and Lopez will mark the first time the U.S. Team will have the same coaching staff in back-to-back Solheim Cups since 2002-2003 when Captain Patty Sheehan returned with Assistant Captain Jane Geddes.
“I’m thrilled that we are able to bring back our entire staff from the Solheim Cup win in 2015,” Inkster said. “Pat, Wendy and Nancy bring a wealth of experience both as leaders and players in this event and will once again be magnificent resources to our entire squad. We are looking forward to the opportunity to repeat as champions and win on American soil.”
Hurst compiled a 10-7-3 overall record and earned 11.5 points in five career Solheim Cup appearances and was a member of a winning Team USA squad four times (1998, 2002, 2005, 2007). The 1989 NCAA Individual National Champion out of San Jose State University won six times in her career on the LPGA, including one major (1998 Nabisco Dinah Shore) and had over $7 million in career earnings.
Ward is a three-time U.S. Solheim Cup Team member and helped the Americans earn victories in 2002 and 2005. The San Antonio native posted a 2-8-1 record and earned 2.5 points in her career for Team USA. Ward owns four career LPGA wins and recorded 50 top-10 finishes while making nearly $5 million in her career.
Lopez ranks seventh all-time with 48 career LPGA victories, including three major titles, and was inducted into the LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Fame in 1987. The three-time Vare Trophy winner compiled two points and a 2-1-0 record in her lone Solheim Cup appearance as a player on the winning United States team in 1990. She went on to lead the Americans to victory as Captain of Team USA in 2005.
The top-10 in the current standings for U.S. Solheim Cup Points as of Wednesday, August 10, 2016.
| RANK | PLAYER | POINTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexi Thompson | 334 |
| 2 | Stacy Lewis | 277 |
| 3 | Gerina Piller | 231 |
| 4 | Brittany Lang | 180 |
| 5 | Jessica Korda | 127 |
| 6 | Cristie Kerr | 110 |
| 7 | Mo Martin | 106 |
| 8 | Angela Stanford | 98 |
| 9 | Alison Lee | 77 |
| 10 | Sydnee Michaels | 75 |
*Qualification for the 2017 U.S. Solheim Cup team began at the 2015 Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic and will end at a tournament (TBD) on the 2017 LPGA Tour schedule.
)
)
)
)
