. Significant and extensive Spanish representation, with four players in the European team
. The captains of the European and American teams revealed Monday morning's matches.
The PING Junior Solheim Cup, the exciting Under 18 competition that serves as a warm-up for the upcoming Solheim Cup, has been unveiled in all its splendor.
Two teams, Europe versus the United States, face off. Twenty-four promising young golfers vying for glory. A luxurious venue, the Old Course at La Zagaleta. Four Spanish players in the competition, showcasing the immense potential of our golfing talent pool. A vibrant opening ceremony precedes an intense competition to be held on Monday and Tuesday…
All the ingredients are in place for the PING Junior Solheim Cup to be an unforgettable spectacle. Carlota Ciganda, Azahara Muñoz, Beatriz Recari, and many others who preceded them in this competition serve as essential role models for the four Spanish players present at the tournament, ready to have a memorable experience: Rocío Tejedo from Castellón, Andrea Revuelta from Madrid, Cloe Amión from Valencia, and Anna Cañadó from Tarragona.
The American team makes no secret of their desire for revenge, still smarting from the defeat inflicted by the Europeans in 2021, the first time Europe had won on foreign soil, a feat in which Andrea Revuelta played a prominent role.
“We won thanks to a spectacular comeback that will stay with me forever,” the Madrid-born golfer recounts, her eyes shining with emotion. Within the European team, and therefore among the Spanish players, there is a palpable desire to increase the number of European victories in a record that is currently unbalanced: seven American wins, one tie, and three European victories.
The four Spanish women, as tight-knit as the Three Musketeers, are undisguisedly eager to make history, something that becomes clear as soon as 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, while waiting for the real battle to unfold on the field, the competition has been officially inaugurated through an emotional opening ceremony.
Two national anthems to reinforce the intensity and solemnity of the moment; powerful speeches appealing to the values of sport; parades of the European and American teams; nervous and knowing glances between the main protagonists, twenty-four golfers clearly eager to start playing…
The opening chords of 'Girls on Fire' provided an additional boost to the adrenaline levels of everyone present. 'Vamos Girls', 'Go Europe', 'Go USA' are already echoing through La Zagaleta. The PING Junior Solheim Cup spectacle is finally here.
AROUND THE GREEN
John Solheim officially declares the PING Solheim Cup open
John Solheim, President of PING, officially opened the PING Junior Solheim Cup, the final address of an emotional opening ceremony that also included Jacobo Cestino, CEO of La Zagaleta; Marta Figueras-Dotti, President of the LET; José María Arrabal, Secretary General for Sport of the Regional Government of Andalusia; and José Antonio Mena, Mayor of Benahavís. Other prominent figures associated with the event—such as Manuel Cardeña, President of the Association of Municipalities of the Western Costa del Sol; Gonzaga Escauriaza, President of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation; and Pablo Mansilla, President of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation—were also present for the start of this important competition.
Belén Mozo, a presenter with experience in the PING Junior Solheim Cup
Belén Mozo, from Spain, acted as master of ceremonies during the official presentation of the PING Junior Solheim Cup, a tournament she knows perfectly well given that she participated in two editions, specifically in 2003 and 2005. Special mention for the first of them held in Sweden, which concluded with a victory for the European team by 12.5 to 11.5.
Two teams of great promises of world golf, face to face
The European team that will attempt to make history by winning the PING Junior Solheim Cup for the second consecutive time is captained by France's Gwladys Nocera, assisted by Switzerland's Nora Angehrn as vice-captain. They will guide the Spanish team of Cloe Amión, Anna Cañadó, Andrea Revuelta, and Rocío Tejedo; the Swedish team of Nora Sundberg, Josefin Widal, and Meja Örtengren; the Swiss team of Yana Beeli; the German team of Helen Briem; the Belgian team of Savannah de Bock; the Italian team of Francesca Fiorellini; and the Czech team of Denisa Vodickova.
Facing them is the US team, which will do everything possible to reclaim the trophy. They are led by Amy Alcott and Libby Burroughs, captain and vice-captain, respectively. The two will oversee 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 inaugurate the competition
During the opening ceremony, the captains of both teams revealed the schedule for Monday morning's matches, an important decision in shaping the coveted final victory sought by each of the competing teams. Two Spanish players, Rocío Tejedo and Andrea Revuelta, will kick off the tournament at 8:15 a.m. alongside Americans Megan Meng and Irene Kim.
One match behind, at 08:25 hours, Anna Cañadó starts alongside the Swede Nora Sundberg, while Cloe Amión, alongside the Belgian Savannah de Bock, starts her day at 08:55 hours.
The four Spanish players, current European Under-18 Team Champions
What unites the promising quartet of Spanish women competing is their quality and talent, demonstrated countless times throughout their still-developing sporting careers. Their most recent proof came at the European Under-18 Women's Team Championships, where they won a gold medal. It's no surprise, then, that they are confident in giving their all to secure another potentially prestigious victory in any sporting career: the PING Junior Solheim Cup.
Foursomes, fourballs and singles matches
The competition system of the PING Junior Solheim Cup, identical to that of the upcoming Solheim Cup which will take place at Finca Cortesín from September 22 to 24, establishes three game modalities: Foursomes, fourballs (both in pairs) and individual matches, with 24 points at stake in total.
In Monday morning's foursomes, the players on each pair take turns hitting a single ball until it's holed, alternating tee times (one player starts on even holes and the other on odd holes). In Monday afternoon's fourballs, each golfer on the pair plays their own ball, and the player with the lowest score wins each hole. Finally, in the singles matches, the player with the lowest score also wins the hole.
IN FRONT OF THE MICROPHONE
Rocío Tejedo: “It’s a dream come true”
Rocío Tejedo, from Castellón, who has had a spectacular year with numerous victories, acknowledged that “being here is the goal I set for myself at the beginning of the season, and as it progressed, I knew I was getting closer to achieving it. It’s a dream come true because it’s the first and last time that, due to my age, I’m going to play in this tournament.”.
Andrea Revuelta: “The 2021 victory is still present in my memory”
Andrea Revuelta, from Madrid and the reigning Spanish Absolute Champion, is the only Spaniard at La Zagaleta with previous experience in the PING Junior Solheim Cup. “My memories of 2021 are all wonderful, as we won with a spectacular comeback that will stay with me forever. Based on my experience, I advise my teammates to live each moment to the fullest because it's an unforgettable week.”.
Cloe Amión: “I hope we can motivate future generations like Carlota Ciganda and Azahara Muñoz did for us.”
With her characteristic open and ever-present smile, Cloe Amión, the Valencian player and current Spanish Under-18 champion, admits, “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 on top of that, I have the privilege of being part of a group of four Spanish players. The performances of Carlota Ciganda, Azahara Muñoz, and all the Spanish women who have competed in this tournament and gone on to achieve success have motivated us to be here. I hope that we, in turn, will be able to motivate future generations.”.
Anna Cañadó: “Placing the ball correctly at every moment will be the key to the tournament”
Anna Cañado, from Tarragona and a member of the Spanish team that won the gold medal at the European Under-18 Championships in July, warns that “positioning the ball correctly at every moment will be key this week. It's especially important on the final holes, because on the last day, with 12 points up for grabs, many of them will be decided in the final stages. The course is in very good condition, and it's crucial to hit straight shots because the fairways are narrow in many places.”.
