Six-team international team competition begins Thursday at Carden Park
For U.S. Team bios, click here.
For headshots of the U.S. Team, click here.
CHESTER, England – This week’s Women’s PGA Cup will present a new challenge for the United States Team: competing overseas for the first time.
The five PGA of America Golf Professionals representing the United States will travel to Chester, England, this week to compete in the Women’s PGA Cup, September 3-5, at Carden Park Golf Resort.
The U.S. Team is led by playing captain Ashley Grier (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) and includes Sandra Changkija (Daytona Beach, Fla.), Stephanie Connelly Eiswerth (Fleming Island, Fla.), Allie Knight (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Kim Paez (Frisco, Texas).
This is the fourth playing of the Women’s PGA Cup, a biennial international team competition, and the first to be contested outside of the United States. The 2026 edition features teams of women PGA Professionals from the United States, Australia, Canada, Great Britain & Ireland, South Africa and Sweden. The teams will compete in a 54-hole stroke play format on Carden Park’s Cheshire course. The low three of five scores per team count toward the team total per round.
Grier, who has represented the U.S. in every edition of the Women’s PGA Cup, is eager for the opportunity to compete in England.
“We get two practice rounds so we will have plenty of time to assess and get a feel for the golf course,” said Grier. “Playing the practice rounds together as a team really helps as you can discuss with each other the best strategy for each hole. Sometimes you get a better perspective on the smartest way to play a hole when you can talk it out with the other players.”
All but one of the U.S. Team Members have previous Women’s PGA Cup experience. Connelly Eiswerth will be playing in her third consecutive Women’s PGA Cup, while Changkija and Knight will play for the second time following their 2024 debuts.
“I am so honored to be the playing captain this year,” said Grier. “Our team is stacked with talent and drive, which is a dangerous combination. We have multiple National and Section Players of the Year on the team, every one of us has played in multiple major championships and four of the five of us have played in previous Women’s PGA Cups so we know what to expect and what we have to do to take home another victory.”
Paez, the PGA Player Development Manager for PING Golf, is the team’s lone rookie. The Northern Texas PGA Member closely tracked the standings throughout the qualification process, “calculating all the points” as she pursued her spot on the U.S. Team.
“I mapped it out to make sure that I made it on the team this time around,” said Paez. “I’ve never actually participated in an event where I can represent our country. That’s something I take a lot of pride in. Golf is an individual sport, but to be back in a team setting I think that is so fun. I really enjoyed my college years, representing our school and the whole camaraderie that comes along with it. To have that chance of being a part of a team, and especially with these girls that I’ve grown to know and develop friendships with, it’s going to be a fun time and a new experience for all of us.”
Connelly Eiswerth, a PGA Teaching Professional at San Jose Country Club, returns following a dominant performance in 2024 at Sunriver Resort in Sunriver, Oregon. She shot 6-under 207 for the week to earn Brittany Kelly Medalist Honors.
“It’s truly the best week,” said Connelly Eiswerth. “It does not get old being able to have the opportunity to be out there and play and to make the Cup. It’s a big-time change. It’s different conditions. But it’s also really exciting because we get to go somewhere new. Everybody’s games are a little bit different, so we’ll let everybody do their preparation, enjoy our time together and push each other a little bit to be ready to go and cheer each other on, as well.”
The Americans will compete for their fourth consecutive Women’s PGA Cup victory following a dominant 12-stroke triumph over runner-up Canada in 2024 at Sunriver Resort. The U.S. captured a two-stroke win over Canada in 2022 at Twin Warriors Golf Club in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico. The inaugural Women’s PGA Cup was played in 2019 at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas, where the U.S. Team clinched a four-stroke victory over runner-up Canada.
2026 U.S. Women’s PGA Cup Team
Sandra Changkija (Daytona Beach, Fla.) – Sugar Mill Country Club, North Florida Section
Stephanie Connelly Eiswerth (Fleming Island, Fla.) – San Jose Country Club, North Florida Section
Ashley Grier (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) – The Legacy Golf & Tennis Club – South Florida Section
Allie Knight (Knoxville, Tenn.) – Fairways and Greens Golf Center – Tennessee Section
Kim Paez (Frisco, Texas) – Ping Golf – Northern Texas Section
The U.S. Team was determined through a two-year point system, which included the 2025-26 Women’s Stroke Play Championship (Championship Division), the 2025-26 LPGA Professionals Championship and the final money lists of the 2024-25 PGA Tournament Series. Any PGA Member who made the cut at the 2025-26 KPMG Women’s PGA Championships, 2025-26 U.S. Women’s Opens or the 2025-26 PGA Professional Championships also earned points. Additionally, a weighted PGA Section points system was used to award points.
Women’s PGA Cup Schedule (All times listed BST) #1 Tee Cheshire Golf Course:
Thursday, Sept. 3 1st Round of Play 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. (11 min. int.)
Friday, Sept. 4 2nd Round of Play 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. (11 min. int.)
Saturday, Sept. 5 Final Round of Play 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. (11 min. int.)
Dunning is the official outfitter for the 2026 U.S. Women’s PGA Cup Team.
Trackman is a supplier for the 2026 U.S. Women’s PGA Cup Team.
For additional information on the Women’s PGA Cup, visit here.
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Media Contact: Greg Dillard, PGA of America, gdillard@pgahq.com
