Trio boasts a collective 22 Solheim Cup experiences
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., March 6, 2008 – In preparation for the 2009 Solheim Cup, U.S.Team Captain Beth Daniel has selected Meg Mallon and Kelly Robbins as her two assistant captains. The trio will lead the U.S. Team in their quest to maintain a perfect record on home soil Aug. 21-23, 2009, at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill.
“I’m thrilled to have these two players as my assistants. Not only are they good friends of mine, but they collectively have 14 years of Solheim Cup experience, which I will lean very heavily on,” said Daniel, who adds eight appearances of her own and was assistant captain to Betsy Kingin 2007. “Since being named captain, this is the most excited I’ve been about The Solheim Cup. This means things are starting to get rolling; I have my team in place and we’re ready to go.”
Mallon is an eight-time member of the U.S. Solheim Cup Team, and played in every event from 1992 through 2005. She and Solheim Cup teammate Juli Inkster lead the U.S. Team’s all-time list for most points earned with 16 ½; Mallon also owns a 13-9-7 record.
“I was thrilled that Beth asked me to be an assistant captain and also thrilled to be with Kelly, considering we’ve been on six Solheim Cup teams together,” Mallon said. “The Solheim Cup has been a major part of my career and I’m really excited to be part of it and excited for Rich Harvest Farms. I’ve worked close with Jerry (Rich, owner of Rich Harvest Farms) for a long time and I’m glad to be part of that experience as well.”
Six consecutive Solheim Cup experiences (1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003) and a 10-10-4 record will aid Robbins in her newest role. She was teammates with both Daniel and Mallon all six competitions and halved one foursomes match, each, with them in 2003.
“It is a real honor,” Robbins said. “I’ve looked up to Beth since I can’t remember and just to have her choose me to be part of that week with her, I’m humbled, honored and am really looking forward to it. I can’t wait.”
The trio of captains has a combined 22 Solheim Cup appearances of experience to draw on. They were all also members of the 1996 U.S. team, which was the only team in all of Solheim Cup history that had won on foreign soil, until the 2007 squad defeated the European Team in Halmstad, Sweden, last September, 16 to12.
About The Solheim Cup
Sponsored by PING golf equipment, The Solheim Cup is named in honor of the company’s founder, Karsten Solheim, and his family. The Solheim Cup is the most prestigious team event in women’s professional golf. It is a biennial, trans-Atlantic team match-play competition featuring the best U.S.-born players from the LPGA and the best European-born players from the Ladies European Tour (LET). Following a 16 to 12 victory at the 2007 Solheim Cup in Halmstad,Sweden, the U.S. Team leads the competition, 7-3, and has never lost on home soil.
Contact:
Dana Gross-Rhode, LPGA, 386-274-6273, dana.grossrhode@lpga.com
