The competition, with a significant Spanish representation with four players, has been inaugurated in La Zagaleta, while the captains Gwladys Nocera and Amy Alcott, unveiled the first clashes
The PING Junior Solheim Cup, the exciting U18 competition that will be the curtain raiser to the upcoming Solheim Cup, has been unveiled in all its magnificence.
Two teams, Europe and the United States, face each other. Twenty-four promising golfers in search of glory. A luxury venue, the Old Course of La Zagaleta. Four Spaniards in the competition, demonstrating the enormous strength of our young golfers. A vibrant opening ceremony prior to an intense competition to be held on Monday and Tuesday.
All the ingredients are in place to make the PING Junior Solheim Cup an unforgettable spectacle. Carlota Ciganda, Azahara Muñoz, Beatriz Recari and many others who preceded them in this competition are indispensable references for the four Spaniards present at the tournament, ready to live a memorable experience: Rocío Tejedo from Castellón, Andrea Revuelta from Madrid, Cloe Amión from Valencia and Anna Cañadó from Tarragona.
The U.S. team does not hide its desire for revenge, as the defeat inflicted by the Europeans in 2021 still stings, the first time that Europe won in another’s field, a feat in which Andrea Revuelta participated vividly.
“We won thanks to a spectacular comeback that has remained in my memory”, says the golfer from Madrid with visible emotion in her eyes. In the European team, and therefore among the Spaniards, there is a palpable desire to increase the number of European successes in an unbalanced balance for the moment: seven American victories, one draw and three European victories.
The four Spaniards, who are like musketeers, have an undisguised desire to be part of history, something that comes to the fore when they are asked how the experience is going. “We are very proud to represent Spain and Europe in the Ping Junior Solheim Cup,” they proclaim in unison.
In this context of restrained emotion, waiting for the real battle to take place on the field, the competition was officially inaugurated with an emotional opening ceremony.
Two hymns to reinforce the intensity and solemnity of the moment; powerful speeches appealing to the values of the sport; parades of the European and American teams; nervous and complicit looks of the main protagonists, twenty-four golfers with obvious desire to start playing…
The chords of the song ‘Girl on fire’ constituted an additional spring to increase the adrenaline levels of all those present. Vamos Girls’, ‘Go Europe’, ‘Go USA’ are already resounding in La Zagaleta. The spectacle of the PING Junior Solheim Cup is finally here.
AROUND THE GREEN
John Solheim officially inaugurates the PING Solheim Cup
John Solheim, President of PING, officially declared the PING Junior Solheim Cup open, the last speech of an emotional opening ceremony in which Jacobo Cestino, CEO of La Zagaleta; Marta Figueras-Dotti, President of the LET; José María Arrabal, Secretary General for Sport of the Junta de Andalucía, and José Antonio Mena, Mayor of Benahavís, also participated.
Other personalities related to this event – Manuel Cardeña, President of the Association of Municipalities of the Western Costa del Sol; Gonzaga Escauriaza, President of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation; Pablo Mansilla, President of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation – were also present at the start of this important competition.
Belén Mozo, an experienced presenter at the PING Junior Solheim Cup
Spaniard Belén Mozo acted as master of ceremonies during the official presentation of the PING Junior Solheim Cup, a tournament she knows perfectly well since she participated in two editions, in 2003 and 2005. Special mention for the first one held in Sweden, which ended with a victory for the European team by 12.5 to 11.5.
Two teams of the world’s most promising golfers, facing each other
The European team that will try to make history by winning the PING Junior Solheim Cup for the second consecutive time is captained by Frenchwoman Gwladys Nocera, assisted by Swiss Nora Angehrn as vice-captain. Both will guide the destinies of Spain’s Cloe Amión, Anna Cañadó, Andrea Revuelta and Rocío Tejedo; Sweden’s Nora Sundberg, Josefin Widal and Meja Örtengren; Switzerland’s Yana Beeli; Germany’s Helen Briem; Belgium’s Savannah de Bock; Italy’s Francesca Fiorellini and the Czech Republic’s Denisa Vodickova.
Facing them is the U.S. team, which will do everything possible to regain the trophy. They are led by Amy Alcott and Libby Burroughs, captain and vice-captain, respectively. The two will watch over the play of Leigh Chien, Gianna Clemente, Anna Davis, Kathryn Ha, Irene Kim, Ryleigh Knaub, Jasmine Koo, Megan Meng, Elizabeth Rudisill, Anna Song, Asterisk Talley and Yana Wilson.
Rocío Tejedo and Andrea Revuelta open the competition.
During the opening ceremony, the captains of both teams unveiled Monday morning’s matches, an important decision to shape the final victory sought by each of the contending teams. Two Spaniards, Rocío Tejedo and Andrea Revuelta, forming a pair, will open the tournament at 8:15 a.m. against the Americans Megan Meng and Irene Kim.
One game behind, at 8:25 a.m., Anna Cañadó will start alongside Sweden’s Nora Sundberg, while Cloe Amión, alongside Belgium’s Savannah de Bock, will begin their day at 8:55 a.m.
The four Spaniards, reigning European U18 Team Champions
If there is one thing that unites the thriving quartet of Spaniards present in the competition, it is their quality and talent, which they have demonstrated on countless occasions throughout their still incipient sporting careers. The last occasion to demonstrate this was at the European Under 18 Women’s Team Championship, which resulted in a gold medal. It is no wonder, therefore, that they are so confident of offering their best to share another possible triumph of enormous qualification in any sporting curriculum: the PING Junior Solheim Cup.
Foursomes, fourballs and singles matches
The competition system of the PING Junior Solheim Cup, identical to the imminent Solheim Cup to be held at Finca Cortesin from September 22 to 24, establishes three types of play: Foursomes, fourballs (both pairs) and individual matches, with a total of 24 points at stake.
In the morning foursome on Monday, the players of each pair will take alternating strokes to a single ball until they hit the hole, alternating the tee shots (one starts the even holes and the other the odd holes). In the afternoon fourball on Monday, each golfer of the pair plays her ball and wins each hole with the lowest score. Finally, in the individual matches, the lowest score also wins the hole.
Rocío Tejedo: “It’s a dream come true”.
Rocío Tejedo from Castellón, protagonist of a spectacular year with numerous victories to her credit, acknowledged that “being here is the goal I set myself at the beginning of the season, and as I was progressing, I knew I was closer to achieving it. It is a dream come true because it is the first and last time that, due to my age, I will play this tournament”.
Andrea Revuelta: “The victory of 2021 is still present in my memory”.
Andrea Revuelta from Madrid, reigning Spanish Absolute champion, is the only Spaniard in La Zagaleta with previous experience in the PING Junior Solheim Cup. “The memories of 2021 are all very nice since we won with a spectacular comeback that has been marked in my memory. From the experience I have had, I advise my teammates to live every moment with intensity because it is an unforgettable week for life.”
Cloe Amión: “Hopefully we will be able to motivate future generations as Carlota Ciganda and Azahara Muñoz did with us”.
With the frank and permanent smile that characterizes her, the Valencian Cloe Amión, current champion of Spain U18, recognizes that “I still can’t believe I’m here, it’s a dream to share this experience with the best players in Europe and the United States. And with the privilege of being part of a group of four Spanish players. The performances of Carlota Ciganda, Azahara Muñoz and all the Spaniards who have played in this competition and then triumphed have motivated us to be here. Hopefully, we in turn will be able to motivate future generations.
Anna Cañadó: “To place the ball well at every moment will be the key of the tournament”.
The Tarragona-born Anna Cañado, a member of the Spanish team that won the gold medal at the European Under 18 in July, warns that “placing the ball well at every moment will be the key to this week. Very important especially in the last holes, because on the last day, with 12 points at stake, many of them will be decided in that final. The course is in very good condition and it is very important to go straight, because the fairways are narrow in many places”.
The Solheim Cup 2023, an event of exceptional public interest whose official venue is Finca Cortesin, is sponsored by PING, Costa del Sol Tourism and Rolex as global partners; and by the Consejería de Turismo, Cultura y Deporte de la Junta de Andalucía, with co-financing from the European Union, Acosol, the Marbella Town Hall and the Benahavís Town Hall as official partners, and Casares Town Hall and Reale Seguros are official sponsors. Solán de Cabras, Eversheds Sutherland, Toro, Vithas, E-Z-GO, Jet Set Sports and Olin are official suppliers. BMW Automotor Premium is official sustainability car. Peninsula and Trablisa are sustainability partners. Marca and Radio Marca are official media. Promoted and organised by Deporte & Business. LET, LPGA, RFEG, CSD and RFGA collaborate in its organisation.
More information on the website www.solheimcup2023.eu, on the Twitter account @SolheimCup2023, on the Instagram account @solheimcup2023esp and on the Facebook page Solheim Cup 2023.
