Team USA Retain Junior Solheim Cup After 13-11 Thriller over Europe

At Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands, Team USA survived a remarkable final-day scare to retain the Junior Solheim Cup with a narrow 13-11 victory over Team Europe. Morgan Pressel's side took a seven-point lead into the singles session, yet Europe, captained by Anne van Dam, won 8.5 of the 12 points on Sunday and threatened a record-breaking comeback. Team USA needed just 2.5 points to keep the trophy, or three points for an outright win. Annabel Peaford led Europe's charge by beating world No 1 Asterisk Talley 1up, recovering from two down with four to play via a par at 15, a birdie at 16 and two consecutive wins. USA seemed set to end the contest when Eliana Saga defeated Adriana Garcia Terol 4&3 and Madeleine Conser beat Lana Guyot 5&4. But Europe kept scoring with Lauren Crump (3&2 over Amber Lee), Anna Ludvova (2&1 over Grace Carter) and Lena Geier, who won the final hole against Aubrey Hilgers. Sofia Maier-Borst and Axelle Guillemard added wins over Amelie Zalsman and Honorine Ferry. Kelly Zhang then delivered the decisive point for Team USA with a 2up victory over Carolina Perez-Tasso. Carlota Lopez Minguela finished off Irish Lee 3&2, Marta Munoz birdied the penultimate hole to halve with Anna Fang, and Alice Kong snatched a victory over Lily Peng at the last. Europe claimed 8.5 points on the final day, but their seven-point deficit was too large to overturn. Team USA will leave the Netherlands with the trophy and a lesson in composure; Team Europe will leave knowing a stronger start is the difference between nearly and actually winning.