Ladies European Tour stalwart Gwladys Nocera and LPGA Tour legend Beth Daniel have been named as captains for the European and US Junior 2024 PING Junior Solheim Cup teams respectively.
Nocera is continuing in the role for a second term, having guided her squad of young players to a 15-9 victory in Spain last year, while 2009 Solheim Cup winning captain Daniel will be leading the junior USA team for the first time as the PING Junior Solheim Cup heads to Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia on 9-10 September.
Nocera said: “I’m very excited to captain the European team for the second time in the coming PING Junior Solheim cup. It’s a real honour and I’m sincerely touched by the trust. I’m very excited to lead what will be an amazing group of young and talented players.
“My role as a National Coach for France will allow me to follow the girls who will be aiming to qualify and alongside Dewi Claire Schreefel, my vice-captain, we will give our hearts so the team has the best time in America to bring the cup home! Thank you to PING, John Solheim and the LET for believing in me and for making this event so unique.”
Daneil said: “I saw John’s name pop up on my phone and I thought to myself ‘why is John Solheim calling me?’. I was so surprised; I thought those days were behind me. I am so honoured that the Solheim family wanted me to captain the US junior team,”
John Solheim, Chairman of PING, said: “We are delighted to have Gwladys Nocera back again as the captain leading the European girls at the 2024 PING Junior Solheim Cup. With her experience both as a former Solheim Cup player and PING Junior Solheim Cup captain, Gwladys will again bring her exceptional guidance to the team. She embodies excellence as a player, coach, and mentor, and we are privileged to have her leadership. Our best wishes go to her and the European Team as they defend their title at the Army Navy Country Club – Arlington this fall.”
He added: “We’re also thrilled to have Beth Daniel as the captain of the 2024 PING Junior Solheim Cup US team. She brings a wealth of experience and a distinguished golfing career to this important role. Her dedication to the sport, coupled with her tremendous success as an 8-time Solheim Cup player, and the winning captain in 2009, makes her the ideal leader for this exceptional team of young athletes. We are excited to see her lead the US team on home soil against the European team at Army Navy Golf Club this fall.”
Daniel will look to lead Team USA to their first win since 2019. The USA has won seven of the 12 stagings of the matches, with Europe winning 4 and there being one tie. Both teams will feature six automatic qualifiers from a season-long ranking system and six captain’s picks.
