Transatlantic showdown between U.S., European squads slated for Sept. 14-16 in Sweeden
By The Morning News Staff & Wire Reports
ROGERS — Next week, Halmstad Golf Club in western Sweden will host the 10th meeting of the United States and Europe in The Solheim Cup, and many of the U.S. team players will be spending this week tuning up for the event at the inaugural LPGA NW Arkansas Championship presented by John Q. Hammons at Pinnacle Country Club.
The Solheim Cup is slated for Sept. 14-16, in Halmstad, Sweden. A team of 12 European-born players that includes Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam and fellow Swede Sophie Gustafson will compete against the U.S. team. The U.S. team is looking to improve upon its 6-3 all-time record against the European team and clinch its first victory on European soil since 1996.
Juli Inkster is the veteran on a young U.S. team that will try to defend its Solheim championship in Sweden. Captain Betsy King announced the 12-player squad Aug. 26 after the Safeway Classic. Paula Creamer was the top points earner for a spot, and Nicole Castrale and Laura Diaz were captain’s picks.
Natalie Gulbis, Pat Hurst, Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lincicome, Stacy Prammanasudh, Morgan Pressel, Angela Stanford and Sherri Steinhauer also made the team.
Castrale, Lincicome, Prammanasudh and Pressel are new to the event. Inkster will be playing for the seventh time.
“We’re got a lot of rookies, but we’ve got a lot of rookies with a lot of heart,” Inkster said.
Kerr , the U.S. Women’s Open champion, earned the second-highest total of points in qualifying for the U.S. team with 713.50 points. Kerr has been onboard for the NW Arkansas Championship since her commitment was announced by tournament officials after her U.S. Women’s Open victory on July 1 over Lorena Ochoa and Angela Park at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C.
Diaz has played in three Solheim Cups. She finished 14th in the points standings for a spot, but her experience prompted King to pick her.
“I thought that was very important, particularly going over to Sweden, to have someone that had played over there before,” she said.
Players qualified to represent the U.S. by earning points for wins and top-20 finishes over a two-year qualifying period. Players began earning points toward the 2007 Solheim Cup at the 2005 State Farm Classic.
Prammanasudh, an Oklahoma native, was fifth in the points standings at 483.50 in earning her first Solheim Cup berth. Prammanasudh has seven top-10 finishes this season with one victory at the Fields Open in Hawaii.
In 2005, Gulbis had the best winning percentage on the 2005 team at 75 percent (3-1- 0). The 2007 Ginn OPEN champion Brittany Lincicome remains eighth in the points race with 396.50 points. Angela Stanford stands ninth with 339 points. Sherri Steinhauer (324.50 points) rounds out the top-10. Seven-time LPGA Tour winner Steinhauer has played on the American side three times in her 22 years on Tour.
Gulbis, Lincicome, Stanford and Steinhauer all will be competing in the NW Arkansas Championship.
AT A GLANCE
2007 U.S. Solheim Cup Team
Captain: Betsy King
Assistant captain: Beth Daniel
Automatic qualifiers Final points
1. Paula Creamer 741.00
2. Cristie Kerr 713.50
3. Morgan Pressel 532.50
4. Juli Inkster 512.00
5. Stacy Prammanasudh 483.50
6. Pat Hurst 449.00
7. Natalie Gulbis 412.50
8. Brittany Lincicome 396.50
9. Angela Stanford 372.00
10. Sherri Steinhauer 324.50
Captain’s picks
Nicole Castrale 277.00
Laura Diaz 240.00
2007 U.S. Solheim Cup Team veterans
Name Years participated
Paula Creamer 2005
Laura Diaz 2002, 2003, 2005
Natalie Gulbis 2005
Pat Hurst 1998, 2000, 2002, 2005
Juli Inkster 1992, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005
Cristie Kerr 2002, 2003, 2005
Angela Stanford 2003
Sherri Steinhauer 1994, 1998, 2000
