MAGUIRE TWINS HEAD FOR PING JUNIOR SOLHEIM CUP TEAM
NEW RELEASE ISSUED BY THE IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Ireland's Leona and Lisa Maguire have all but clinched their places in the European team for the PING Junior Solheim Cup, to be played at Knightsbrook Hotel Spa and Golf Resort, in Co. Meath, Ireland, on September 20-21.
The 16 year-old twins, from Slieve Russell, claimed the top two places on the European PING Junior Solheim Cup Ranking after fine performances in the 2011 International European Ladies Amateur Championship at a windswept Noordwijkse Golf Club in the Netherlands and with just one counting event left to go - the Girls' British Open Championship at Gullane on August 8-12 - can start to dream about playing against the leading Americans in front of their home fans.
It would be their second appearance in the biennial contest, having made their debuts as 14 year-olds during the USA's 15 ½ - 8 ½ victory over Europe in the 2009 match at Aurora Golf Club in Illinois.
Lisa travelled to the Netherlands in fourth place on the European PING Junior Solheim Cup Ranking but moved up to second, just behind sister, Leona, after a spectacular performance at Noordwijkse when she defied near gale force winds in the last round to claim the title with a five over par aggregate of 293.
Her four rounds of 73, 68, 73 and 79 confirmed Lisa as the first Irish woman to claim the International European Amateur Championship title and, to cap a great weekend for the Irish, compatriot Stephanie Meadow was second on 297 and sister, Leona, was fourth on 300.
It was also a good tournament for France's Manon Gidali, who earlier this year won the French International Lady Juniors' Amateur title, and who consolidated third place on the European PING Junior Solheim Cup Ranking with a share of seventh place at Noordwiijkse.
All eyes now turn to the last counting event, the Girls' British Open Championship at Gullane, after which the top-six on the European PING Junior Solheim Cup Ranking will earn automatic places in the team to tee up at Knightsbrook. A further six wild card players will then be selected before August 15. The American side is to be announced on August 2.
Lotta Neumann, the captain of Europe's 2011 PING Junior Solheim Cup team is delighted at how her side is taking shape.
"The girls and performing very well and I'm really impressed," said the former British and US Women's Open champion, who represented Europe in six Solheim Cups between 1990 and 2000 and was Vice Captain under Alison Nicholas MBE at the 2009 Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms, Illinois.
"It's going to be very interesting to see what happens at the last counting event, the British Girls' Championship at Gullane and it certainly won't be an easy job allocating the six wild cards."I just wish everyone could have the chance to play in the PING Junior Solheim Cup," she added.
The PING Junior Solheim Cup, which is open to girls born in 1993 or lter, always takes place immediately ahead of the Solheim Cup, this year due to be played at Killeen Castle from September 23-25, 2011, just 15 minutes' drive from Knightsbrook Hotel Spa and Golf Resort. PING is the title sponsor, the Irish Ladies Golf Union is the Official Host, Twenty Eleven IGPL is the Promoter, Knightsbrook Hotel Spa and Golf Resort is the Official Venue and LET is the Governing Body.
The event was founded by PING in 2002. Previous PING Junior Solheim Cup competitors include Paula Creamer, Anna Nordqvist, Morgan Pressel, Caroline Hedwall, Caroline Hedwall, Brittany Lincicome and Melissa Reid.
The attached photograph shows Lisa Maguire at the 2011 International European Ladies Amateur Championship
European PING Junior Solheim Cup Ranking (as of today)
210 pts Leona Maguire (Ire)
171¼ pts Lisa Maguire (Ire)
110 pts Manon Gidali (Fra)
100 pts Emily Taylor (Eng)
80 pts Stefania Avanzo (Ita)
74¼ pts Celine Boutier (Fra)
63½ pts Daisy Neilsen (Den)
62½ pts Rocio Sanchez (Spa)
60 pts Georgia Hall (Eng)
60 pts Emilie Alonso (Fra)
59¼ pts Antonio Scherer (Ger)
50 pts Perrine Delacour (Fra)
42½ pts Hayley Davis (Eng)
40 pts Charley Hull (Eng)
39¼ pts Karoline Lampert (Ger)
38 pts Natalia Escuriola Martinez (Sp)
37½ pts Noemi Jimenez Martin (Sp)
33 pts Luna Sobron (Spa)
33 pts Krista Bakker (Hol)
20 pts Emma Nilsson (Swe)
* 1 event remaining - Girls British Amateur, Gullane No.1, 8-12 Aug
The 16 year-old twins, from Slieve Russell, claimed the top two places on the European PING Junior Solheim Cup Ranking after fine performances in the 2011 International European Ladies Amateur Championship at a windswept Noordwijkse Golf Club in the Netherlands and with just one counting event left to go - the Girls' British Open Championship at Gullane on August 8-12 - can start to dream about playing against the leading Americans in front of their home fans.
It would be their second appearance in the biennial contest, having made their debuts as 14 year-olds during the USA's 15 ½ - 8 ½ victory over Europe in the 2009 match at Aurora Golf Club in Illinois.
Lisa travelled to the Netherlands in fourth place on the European PING Junior Solheim Cup Ranking but moved up to second, just behind sister, Leona, after a spectacular performance at Noordwijkse when she defied near gale force winds in the last round to claim the title with a five over par aggregate of 293.
Her four rounds of 73, 68, 73 and 79 confirmed Lisa as the first Irish woman to claim the International European Amateur Championship title and, to cap a great weekend for the Irish, compatriot Stephanie Meadow was second on 297 and sister, Leona, was fourth on 300.
It was also a good tournament for France's Manon Gidali, who earlier this year won the French International Lady Juniors' Amateur title, and who consolidated third place on the European PING Junior Solheim Cup Ranking with a share of seventh place at Noordwiijkse.
All eyes now turn to the last counting event, the Girls' British Open Championship at Gullane, after which the top-six on the European PING Junior Solheim Cup Ranking will earn automatic places in the team to tee up at Knightsbrook. A further six wild card players will then be selected before August 15. The American side is to be announced on August 2.
Lotta Neumann, the captain of Europe's 2011 PING Junior Solheim Cup team is delighted at how her side is taking shape.
"The girls and performing very well and I'm really impressed," said the former British and US Women's Open champion, who represented Europe in six Solheim Cups between 1990 and 2000 and was Vice Captain under Alison Nicholas MBE at the 2009 Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms, Illinois.
"It's going to be very interesting to see what happens at the last counting event, the British Girls' Championship at Gullane and it certainly won't be an easy job allocating the six wild cards."I just wish everyone could have the chance to play in the PING Junior Solheim Cup," she added.
The PING Junior Solheim Cup, which is open to girls born in 1993 or lter, always takes place immediately ahead of the Solheim Cup, this year due to be played at Killeen Castle from September 23-25, 2011, just 15 minutes' drive from Knightsbrook Hotel Spa and Golf Resort. PING is the title sponsor, the Irish Ladies Golf Union is the Official Host, Twenty Eleven IGPL is the Promoter, Knightsbrook Hotel Spa and Golf Resort is the Official Venue and LET is the Governing Body.
The event was founded by PING in 2002. Previous PING Junior Solheim Cup competitors include Paula Creamer, Anna Nordqvist, Morgan Pressel, Caroline Hedwall, Caroline Hedwall, Brittany Lincicome and Melissa Reid.
The attached photograph shows Lisa Maguire at the 2011 International European Ladies Amateur Championship
European PING Junior Solheim Cup Ranking (as of today)
210 pts Leona Maguire (Ire)
171¼ pts Lisa Maguire (Ire)
110 pts Manon Gidali (Fra)
100 pts Emily Taylor (Eng)
80 pts Stefania Avanzo (Ita)
74¼ pts Celine Boutier (Fra)
63½ pts Daisy Neilsen (Den)
62½ pts Rocio Sanchez (Spa)
60 pts Georgia Hall (Eng)
60 pts Emilie Alonso (Fra)
59¼ pts Antonio Scherer (Ger)
50 pts Perrine Delacour (Fra)
42½ pts Hayley Davis (Eng)
40 pts Charley Hull (Eng)
39¼ pts Karoline Lampert (Ger)
38 pts Natalia Escuriola Martinez (Sp)
37½ pts Noemi Jimenez Martin (Sp)
33 pts Luna Sobron (Spa)
33 pts Krista Bakker (Hol)
20 pts Emma Nilsson (Swe)
* 1 event remaining - Girls British Amateur, Gullane No.1, 8-12 Aug
Labels: Girls
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | 8:02:00 pm
<< Home