The qualifying criteria for the PING Junior Solheim Cup 2019 have been confirmed. Twelve of Europe’s brightest young stars between the age of 12 and 18 will be selected to try and win back the trophy, won by the American team in 2017, at Gleneagles on 10 and 11 September, 2019.
The full list of criteria for the 2019 PING Junior Solheim Cup is detailed below with the leading six players from the PJSC ranking following the Girls British Open Championship 2019 automatically selected along with six Captain’s Picks based on performances at leading amateur events and the European Women’s Amateur Ranking.
European Qualification:
- 12 participants
- Participants must be girls and 12-18 years old (born 2001 or later) and must not have reached their 18th birthday prior to January 1st, 2019.
- Participants must be amateurs and must not be members of a competitive collegiate golf program.
- Participant must be a European citizen (as per IGF National Policy).
- The leading six players from the PING Junior Solheim Cup ranking following the Girls British Open Championship 2019 will be automatically picked. In the event of a tie for the qualification positions, the selection will be decided based on individual standings on the European Women’s Amateur Ranking.
- Six Captain’s picks.
- Performances in all amateur events and the European Women’s Amateur Ranking will be taken into consideration when deciding the Captain’s picks.
The Official Qualifying events for the PING Junior Solheim Cup 2019 Ranking are listed below. A full breakdown of the points allocation for each event can be found at www.solheimcup.com.
- Portuguese International Ladies’ Amateur Championship, Montado Golf Resort, Portugal, Jan 29 – Feb 1
- Spanish International Ladies’ Amateur Championship, Club Zaudín, Spain, Feb 27 – March 3
- French International Lady Junior Championship, Saint-Cloud GC, France, April 18-22
- Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Championship,Troon GC, Scotland April 19-21
- Allianz German Girls’ Open, GC St. Leon-Rot, Germany, May 30-June 1
- Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship, Royal County Down, Northern Ireland, June 11-15
- ANNIKA Invitational Europe,Vasatorp GC, Sweden, June 18-20
- European Girls’ Team Championship. El Saler GC, Spain July 9-13
- European Ladies’ Team Championship, Donna Fugata Resort & Spa, Sicily, Italy, July 9-13
- Girls British Open Championship, Montrose Links, Scotland, Aug 13-17
“The level of competition in the PING Junior Solheim Cup continues to grow so it’s vitally important the qualifying events attract the top girls from across Europe,” said John Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO. “This year’s schedule will surely accomplish that and bring out the best Europe has to offer who will compete for their countries intent on reclaiming the coveted PING Junior Solheim Cup trophy under the leadership of our long-time friend and four-time Solheim Cup captain Mickey Walker. We’ll be following the standings with great interest as the team takes shape over the next year and we look forward to personally meeting all of the players at Gleneagles.”
With two of the qualifying events taking place in Scotland, the now well-publicised group of Scottish juniors, named #project19, who created a WhatsApp group to motivate each other, will have ample opportunity to showcase their talents to Captain Mickey Walker.
With their stated goal, to climb the amateur golf rankings and qualify to represent Team Europe at Gleneagles, their efforts were rewarded last year with a trip to the 2017 edition in Des Moines where they took part in the handover ceremony and now they are fully focused on winning a place in the team at Gleneagles in 2019.
Captain of the first four editions of The Solheim Cup, Walker commented, “We have identified a great spread of world-class amateur events across Europe for the girls to make their mark and claim those valuable points to climb the PING Junior Solheim Cup 2019 Ranking. I look forward to following the progress of Europe’s best juniors closely throughout the year. It is such an exciting opportunity for the juniors and I am expecting the competition to be very intense for those 12 coveted places.”
Europe last won when the match took place at Båstad Golf Club, Sweden in 2007 and there is no end of motivation to win back the trophy as juniors across Europe have a firm eye on earning a coveted place at Gleneagles in 2019.
The Solheim Cup week will begin with the PING Junior Solheim Cup, with the participants made to feel an important part of the main event. This under 18 event will be showcased like never before, as Scotland seeks to ensure that this is the most family orientated and inclusive Solheim Cup ever staged. The Scottish Government has stated their ambition is to ensure the 2019 edition of the Solheim Cup in Perthshire will serve to both grow golf and leave a lasting legacy of increased participation in women’s sport.
Photo credit: Ladies European Tour