Junior pairings revealed for tuesday

The pairings for the opening session of the PING Junior Solheim Cup were announced at an emotional opening ceremony on Monday.

Both Captains – Mary Bea Porter King (USA) and Mickey Walker (Europe) – gave heartfelt thanks to PING Chairman and CEO John Solheim, who founded the event for amateur girls in 2002 and whose parents were responsible for bringing The Solheim Cup to fruition in 1990.

In front of a packed Ballroom at Gleneagles, the 12 players from each team were introduced and the audience watched a highlights reel of past PING Junior Solheim Cups. The competition has been the foundations of some stellar careers over the years, with stars such as Lexi Thompson, Georgia Hall, Charley Hull, Paula Creamer, Carlota Ciganda and Nelly Korda all playing in the junior version before becoming global stars.

Indeed, 10 of this year’s European Solheim Cup team played in the PING Junior Solheim Cup as amateurs.

The European youngsters have a job on their hands to hold back the American tide on Gleneagles’ King’s Course this week. The visitors have won four of the last five editions, with 2011 ending in a 12-12 tie.

Tuesday Foursomes

08.00 Pia Babnik & Alessia Nobilio v Michaela Morard & Rachel Heck
08:10 Hannah Darling & Annabell Fuller v Sadie Englemann & Lucy Li
08:20 Lilas Pinthier & Paula Schulz-Hanssen v Brianna Navarrosa & Briana Chacon
08:30 Lily May Humphreys & Mimi Rhodes v Amanda Sambach & Alexa Pano
08:40 Anne Normann & Amalie Leth-Nissen v Phoebe Brinker & Christine Wang
08:50 Benedetta Moresco & Lucie Malchirand v Zoe Campos & Rose Zhang

Six fourball matches will take place in the afternoon followed by 12 singles matches on Wednesday.