Sweden’s Amanda Linnér shot a solid 71 on the final round of the ANNIKA Invitational Europe, at Halmstad GK, which took her into a play-off against emerging British star, Annabell Fuller. Amanda birdied the third play-off hole to claim victory, with the win taking her back to first position on the European PING Junior Solheim Cup ranking. Full leaderboard below.

Commenting on the victory, Linnér said: “I am so happy with this win, as it takes me one step closer to representing Team Europe at the PING Junior Solheim Cup. It was also great to meet both Annika Sorenstam and Alison Nicholas at the event and learn from their life and golf experiences. I took a huge amount from the information they shared about playing in team and matchplay events.”

With less than four weeks to go until the European team selection is finalised, national teams from across Europe are getting ready to represent their countries in the European Girls’ Team Champtionship, played in Finland on July 11^th – 15^th, or at the European Ladies’ Team Championship in Portugal, which is being played on the same date. When asked about Team Sweden, Linnér said: “We have a very strong team this year. We support each other in good and bad times and we have a lot of fun together. It is really inspiring to be part of this group and I hope we can do Sweden proud at the Team Championships.”

The Team Championship events are the final qualifying events to the PING Junior Solheim Cup. At the end of the qualifying process, the top-six junior girls will earn automatic places on the European team, with the other six players coming from Captain Nicholas’ wildcard picks.

To qualify for the European team, participants must be girls aged 12-18 years old (born 1999, or later), whom have not reached their 18^th birthdays prior to January 1^st 2017. Prospective team members must be amateurs and cannot be members of a competitive collegiate golf programme. In addition, they must also be European citizens.

The 2017 event in Des Moines, Iowa, on August 15^th-16^th, marks the ninth time the European PING Junior Solheim Cup team will battle against the US Team, which currently lead the series with five wins, two losses and one tie.

For more information about the PING Junior Solheim Cup, please visit www.solheimcupeurope.com or contact [email protected].

Photo: Göran Söderqvist

Finland’s Anna Backman climbed onto the PING Junior Solheim Ranking, when she reached the semi-final in last week’s Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship, at Pyle & Kenfig GC, Wales. The performance gave her a chance to qualify for the European PING Junior Solheim Cup team for the match at Des Moines Golf & Country Club, Iowa, on August 15^th and 16^th.

The 18 year-old finished 12^th in the strokeplay qualifier and then won four matches, before she lost against 2009 and 2011 PING Junior Solheim Cup player Leona Maguire from Ireland, in the semi-final. After beating Spain’s Ainhoa Olarra, Leona, 1^st on the World Amateur Ranking, went on to win the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship but, as they are born in 1994 and 1995 respectively, neither are eligible to play in the PING Junior Solheim Cup.

At the end of the qualification process, the top six players on the European Ranking will all earn places in Alison Nicholas’ team, with six additional players receiving a wildcard pick. The ranking is topped by Linn Grant, Amanda Linnér, Frida Kinhult and Beatrice Wallin, all four from Sweden. Currently in fifth place is Letizia Bagnoli from Italy, followed by Emma Spitz of Austria. Full leaderboad below.

The next qualifying event is the ANNIKA Invitational Europe, at Halmstad GK, Sweden (June 20^th-22^nd), where the European Team Captain, Alison Nicholas, will attend to meet players and coaches and have a workshop with the participants, together with Solheim Cup Captain, Annika Sörenstam.

The qualifying season will come to a close with the European Girls’ Team Championship, at St Laurence GC, Finland (July 11^th-15^th), and the European Ladies’ Team Championship, back at Montado Golf Resort (July 11^th-15^th).

To qualify for the European team, participants must be girls aged 12-18 years old (born 1999, or later), whom have not reached their 18^th birthdays prior to January 1^st 2017. Prospective team members must be amateurs and cannot be members of a competitive collegiate golf programme. In addition, they must also be European citizens.

The 2017 event in Des Moines, Iowa, on August 15^th-16^th, marks the ninth time the European PING Junior Solheim Cup team will battle against the US Team, which currently lead the series with five wins, two losses and one tie.

For more information about the PING Junior Solheim Cup, please visit www.solheimcupeurope.com or contact [email protected].

Photo: R&A

Sweden’s Linn Grant moved into first place in the PING Junior Solheim Cup ranking, after winning the Allianz German Boys & Girls Open, played at Golf Club St. Leon Rot, June 1^st-3^rd. It was Linn’s second consecutive win and it takes her within touching distance of representing team Europe in the PING Junior Solheim Cup, which will be played at Des Moines Golf & Country Club, Iowa, United Stated, August 15^th – 16^th.

With Linn storming to a clubhouse lead of 12 under par after two rounds, the third round commenced but, due to severe thunderstorms, players were unable to finish and the tournament organisers made the decision to cut the competition to 36 holes, instead of the intended 54 holes, which lead to Linn being declared the winner.

With only four more PING Junior Solheim Cup qualifying events remaining, Linn has shown she is in top form and would be a great asset for team Europe. See the full leader board below:

The next qualifying event is the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship, at Pale & Kenfig CC, Wales (June 13^th-17^th ), followed by the ANNIKA Invitational Europe, at Halmstad GK, Sweden (June 20^th-22^nd).

The qualifying season will come to a close with the European Girls’ Team Championship, at St Laurence GC, Finland (July 11^th-15^th), and the European Ladies’ Team Championship, back at Montado Golf Resort (July 11^th-15^th).

To qualify for the European team, participants must be girls aged 12-18 years old (born 1999, or later), whom have not reached their 18^th birthdays prior to January 1^st 2017. Prospective team members must be amateurs and cannot be members of a competitive collegiate golf programme. In addition, they must also be European citizens.

The 2017 event in Des Moines, Iowa, on August 15^th-16^th, marks the ninth time the European PING Junior Solheim Cup team will battle against the US Team, which currently lead the series with five wins, two losses and one tie.

For more information about the PING Junior Solheim Cup, please visit www.solheimcupeurope.com or contact [email protected].

PING announced today that it will continue as the official apparel supplier to the 2017 European PING Junior Solheim Cup Team.

The team will wear key designs from the new ladies collection that have been designed exclusively with the lady golfer in mind.

Engineered to play through the brand’s Sensor platform, the new collection combines state-of-the art performance fabrics with unrivalled attention to detail, to deliver long-lasting comfort on the course and an elegant, feminine feel off the course.

Each garment carries the PING ladies logo, which can also be found on the new G Le range of clubs, bags and accessories.

The PING Junior Solheim Cup is to be played 15-16 August 2017 at Des Moines Golf and Country Club, Iowa, USA.

The competition is held immediately ahead of The Solheim Cup, which is being staged at the same venue.

Established by PING Chairman and CEO John Solheim back in 2002, the PING Junior Solheim Cup has earned a deserved reputation as the leading competition for talented European girl golfers to compete against their peers from across the Atlantic.

The likes of Azahara Munoz and Caroline Masson played in the PING Junior Solheim Cup, before graduating to The Solheim Cup.

The 2017 spring/summer women’s apparel collection is available to purchase in store and online at www.pingcollection.co.uk.

For media information contact Sam Elder or Phil Craghill on +44(0)1438 718399

E-mail [email protected]; [email protected]

Sweden’s Linn Grant lifted herself into the top five of the European PING Junior Solheim Cup ranking, after winning the Helen Holm Scottish Open Championship, with a seven under par score in the 54 hole strokeplay competiton, held on 21^st-23^rd April.

Linn carded rounds of 71 and 66, at Troon Portland, followed by a 72 on the final day, at the Old Course Troon, to claim a five stroke victory over Scotland’s Shannon McWilliam. With only five more qualifying events to play before the team selection takes place on 17^th July, there are currently four Swedes occupying the top five spots. Full leaderboard below.

Sweden has dominated the amateur junior events, with wins in three of the first four qualifying events.

The next counting event is the German Girls’ Open, at GC St. Leon-Rot, Germany (June 1-3), followed by the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship, at Pale & Kenfig CC, Wales (June 13-17), and the ANNIKA Invitational Europe, at Halmstad GK, Sweden (June 20-22).

The qualifying season will come to a close with the European Girls’ Team Championship, at St Laurence GC, Finland (July 11-15), and the European Ladies’ Team Championship, back at Montado Golf Resort (July 11-15).

To qualify for the European team, participants must be girls aged 12-18 years old (born 1999, or later), whom have not reached their 18^th birthdays prior to January 1^st, 2017. Prospective team members must be amateurs and cannot be members of a competitive collegiate golf programme. In addition, they must also be European citizens.

The 2017 event in Des Moines, Iowa, on August 15^th-16^th, marks the ninth time the European PING Junior Solheim Cup team will battle against the US Team, which currently leads the series five wins, two losses and one tie.

For more information about the PING Junior Solheim Cup, please visit www.solheimcupeurope.com or contact [email protected].

Sweden’s Frida Kinhult has moved into second place in the PING Junior Solheim Cup European team ranking, after winning the Spanish International Ladies’ Amateur Championship, in Jerez, Spain.

The 17 year-old finished fifth in the stroke play qualifying event. After four match victories she then reached the final and after an even match she won on the first play-off hole against Alessia Nobilio from Italy. The Swede heads into the third counting event with 83 point, just 4.5 points behind Letizia Bagnoli of Italy, who leads the ranking with 87.5 points. A full leaderboard can be found below.

The next counting event is the French International Ladies’ Junior Championship, at GC St Cloud, France (April 13-17), followed by the German Girls’ Open, at GC St. Leon-Rot, Germany (June 1-3), the Helen Holmes Scottish Women’s Open Championship, at Troon GC, Scotland (April 21-23), the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship, at Pale & Kenfig CC, Wales (June 13-17), and the ANNIKA Invitational Europe, at Halmstad GK, Sweden (June 20-22).

The qualifying season will come to a close with the European Girls’ Team Championship, at St Laurence GC, Finland (July 11-15), and the European Ladies’ Team Championship, back at Montado Golf Resort (July 11-15).

To qualify for the European team, participants must be girls aged 12-18 years old (born 1999, or later), whom have not reached their 18th birthdays prior to January 1st, 2017. Prospective team members must be amateurs and cannot be members of a competitive collegiate golf programme. In addition, they must also be European citizens.

The 2017 event in Des Moines, Iowa, on August 15th-16th, marks the ninth time the European PING Junior Solheim Cup team will battle against the US Team, which currently leads the series five wins, two losses and one tie.

For more information about the PING Junior Solheim Cup, please visit www.solheimcupeurope.com or contact [email protected].

Letizia Bagnoli and Alessia Nobilio, Italy with winner Frida Kinhult, Sweden (right). Credit: Spanish Golf Federation