Vancouver Golf Club is tucked in the southwest corner of Canada, just north of the United States border. But with one week remaining in the race to Solheim Cup qualification, it could be a prominent outpost for those preparing for the United States vs. Europe matches one month from now in Germany.
The Canadian Pacific Women’s Open offers the final chance to earn points for the Sept. 18-20 tournament in St. Leon-Rot, Germany, with 14 of the 24 spots determined by next Monday. All of the American combatants and hopefuls are in this week’s field and the vast majority of those hoping to play for Europe are also teeing it up at Vancouver Golf Club. The Ladies European Tour is off until the first week of September and Solheim qualifiers Gwladys Nocera and Melissa Reid aren’t playing in Canada.
“I’ve been there last week and I’ve seen the course and I’ve seen what they’re putting on there,” said Germany’s Caroline Masson, currently on the outside of qualification for the European team. “It’s massive. All the grandstands, all the tents – it’s probably going to be the biggest Solheim ever.
“It means a lot to me, obviously, to be on that team. But you can't think about it and you can't play with that being on your mind because it just puts too much pressure on yourself.”
Here’s a look at both the American and European squads entering this week’s LPGA event:
United States
The top seven on the American squad, via the Solheim Cup points, are secure to make the team. However, the top eight qualify with points, two make the team based on next week’s Rolex Women’s World Rankings points and U.S. Captain Juli Inkster will complete the team with two captain’s picks, creating a last-minute surge.
Inkster will announce her entire team during a one-hour Golf Channel special from 7-8 p.m., EDT on Monday, Aug. 24. On Tuesday morning, Aug. 25, a number of segments will air on Golf Channel to unveil the team uniforms as U.S. team members are interviewed.
| Solheim Cup Points (Top 8) | |||
| Rank | Player | Points | Noteworthy |
| 1 | Stacy Lewis | 1009.5 | The steadiest American, but hasn’t won since June 2014 |
| 2 | Lexi Thompson | 681.5 | Won the Meijer LPGA Classic one month ago |
| 3 | Cristie Kerr | 499.5 | Won Kia Classic in March; riding a streak of four consecutive T16s or better |
| 4 | Michelle Wie | 463.5 | Playing this week, but season marred by injuries |
| 5 | Brittany Lincicome | 440.5 | Only 2015 major winner (ANA Inspiration) on either team |
| 6 | Morgan Pressel | 398.5 | Revival year with five top-five finishes to date |
| 7 | Angela Stanford | 326.5 | Has just two top-10 finishes this season, but only one missed cut |
| 8 | Gerina Piller | 318.5 | T2 one month ago and has closed with 64 and two 68s in last three starts |
| 9 | Lizette Salas | 291.5 | T2 one month ago at Meijer Classic |
| 10 | Brittany Lang | 283.5 | Has shot 68 or better in final round of four of last five starts |
| 11 | Paula Creamer | 277.5 | In jeopardy of not making sixth consecutive team |
| 12 | Jessica Korda | 259 | Three missed cuts and a WD in last four starts |
| 13 | Austin Ernst | 217 | T5 last week in Portland gives her hope |
| 14 | Mo Martin | 198.5 | T5 last week second top-10 of season |
| 15 | Christina Kim | 132 | Has never lost a Solheim singles match (3-0) |
| 16 | Alison Lee | 121.5 | Longshot for points, but final player in the Rolex rankings |
| Rolex Women’s World Rankings (Top 2 not in Solheim points) | |||
| 31 | Lizette Salas | 2.89 | |
| 34 | Alison Lee | 2.54 | |
| 37 | Paula Creamer | 2.48 | |
| 38 | Gerina Piller | 2.47 | |
| 39 | Jessica Korda | 2.45 | |
| 41 | Brittany Lang | 2.43 | |
| 43 | Mo Martin | 2.39 | |
| 50 | Austin Ernst | 2.06 | |
| This week’s points | |||
| 1st | 60 | ||
| 2nd | 30 | ||
| 3rd | 28.5 | ||
| 4th | 27 | ||
| 5th | 25.5 | ||
| 6th | 24 | ||
| 7th | 22.5 | ||
| 8th | 21 | ||
| 9th | 19.5 | ||
| 10th | 18 | ||
| 11th | 16.5 | ||
| 12th | 15 | ||
| 13th | 13.5 | ||
| 14th | 12 | ||
| 15th | 10.5 | ||
| 16th | 9 | ||
| 17th | 7.5 | ||
| 18th | 6 | ||
| 19th | 4.5 | ||
| 20th | 3 | ||
Europe
Four player are already locked in via the Ladies European Tour’s points. They include Norway’s Suzann Pettersen, France’s Gwladys Nocera and England’s Charley Hull and Melissa Reid, through the conclusion of the Tipsport Golf Masters in the Czech Republic on Aug. 9. The next four players will be confirmed on Aug. 24 from the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings and European Captain Carin Koch has four captain’s picks to be announced on Tues., Aug. 25.
| Solheim Cup Points (Top 4) - Final | |||
| Rank | Player | Points | Noteworthy |
| Suzann Pettersen, Norway | 241 | Making eighth Solheim Cup start | |
| Gwladys Nocera, France | 192 | Fourth Solheim start, but first since 2009 | |
| Charley Hull, England | 158 | Beat Paula Creamer 5 and 4 in rookie debut in 2013 | |
| Melissa Reid, England | 133.83 | T5 finish two weeks ago leapfrogged Anna Nordqvist | |
| Rolex Women’s World Rankings (Top 4 not in Solheim points) | |||
| 10 | Anna Nordqvist, Sweden | 5.47 | Nordqvist and Pettersen only European winners on LPGA since April 2014 |
| 24 | Azahara Munoz, Spain | 3.74 | Had hand surgery in March; three top-10s in last two months |
| 42 | Sandra Gal, Germany | 2.42 | Hopes to play doubles with countrywoman Caroline Masson |
| 52 | Carlota Ciganda, Spain | 2.03 | Unbeaten (3-0-0) in 2013 European victory |
| 53 | Catriona Matthew, Scotland | 2.02 | Two missed cuts and WD in last four starts |
| 61 | Karine Icher, France | 1.76 | Hasn’t had a LPGA top 10 since August 2014 |
| 67 | Caroline Masson, Germany | 1.60 | Final-round 77 last week ruined a good start |
| 77 | Christel Boeljon, Netherlands | 1.47 | Second at 2015 ShopRite LPGA career best |
| 78 | Holly Clyburn, England | 1.45 | Three top-10s on Ladies European Tour this year |
| 81 | Pernilla Lindberg, Sweden | 1.40 | Finished T5 at U.S. Women’s Open |
| 94 | Maria McBride, Sweden | 1.19 | Will serve as Vice Captain for this year’s event |
| 100 | Caroline Hedwall, Sweden | 1.15 | 7-1-1 in 2011 and 2013 Solheim Cup appearances |
| 104 | Amy Boulden, Wales | 1.14 | 2014 LET Rookie of the Year has three top-10s this year |
| 406 | Beatriz Recari, Spain | 1.13 | Has one LPGA top-10 this season |
Relativity
LPGA players will be looking over their shoulders in the next couple weeks to see how some of their relatives are faring elsewhere:
- Lexi Thompson has won this season and secured a spot on the Solheim Cup team, but her older brothers are on the bubble on their respective tours. Curtis, a rookie on the Web.com Tour, leads all of golf with a 325.1-yard driving distance average and ranks 71st on the money list. The top 75 make the Web.com Finals series, slated to start the first week of September. Nicholas, on the PGA Tour, is 123rd on the FedExCup points list entering this week’s Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C. The top 125 qualify for the PGA Tour Playoffs, which begin next week.
- As Gerina Piller competes at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open this week, her husband Martin continues to cruise on the Web.com Tour. He is second on the money list, has secured a 2016 PGA Tour card and has won twice in the last month.
- Here’s motivation for Jessica Korda to make the U.S. Solheim Cup team: Younger sister Nelly was chosen for the Junior Solheim Cup to play for U.S. Captain JoAnne Carner. The matches are scheduled Sept. 14-15 at St. Leon-Rot, Germany, playing the same course as the Solheim Cup later that week.
- Brooke Henderson will have her good-luck charm sister in the field again this week on the LPGA. Brittany received a sponsor’s exemption last week in Portland (missed cut) and both sisters are playing this week on sponsor’s exemptions.
Brooke back in Canada
After her record-setting performance last week in Portland, it would be no surprise if Brooke Henderson is the favorite again this week. After all, it’s only a six-hour drive north from Portland to Vancouver for the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and Canadian fans will be very supportive of their new star.
Henderson is the first Canadian winner on the LPGA since Lorie Kane in 2001 and the first Monday qualifier to score a victory since Laurel Kean at the 2000 State Farm Classic. Also, this week’s field is full of young Canadian talent – most notably Epson Tour players Augusta James and Maude-Aimee Leblanc.
Henderson has played at Vancouver Golf Club before, shooting 76-77 to miss the cut in 2012 as a 14-year old. She finished T46 last year at London, Ontario, shooting 2-under and was low Canadian. In 2013, she shot 72-72 and missed the cut at Royal Mayfair.
Here are the players younger than 18 to win on the LPGA (all within the last four years):
Lydia Ko, 2012 CN Canadian Women’s Open at 15 years, 4 months, 2 days
Lydia Ko, 2013 CN Canadian Women’s Open at 16 years, 4 months, 1 day
Lexi Thompson, 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic at 16 years, 7 months, 8 days
Lydia Ko, 2014 Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic at 17 years, 3 days
Lydia Ko, 2014 Marathon Classic at 17 years, 2 months, 26 days
Lydia Ko, 2014 CME Group Tour Championship at 17 years, 6 months, 30 days
Lydia Ko, 2015 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open at 17 years, 9 months, 29 days
Brooke Henderson, 2015 Cambia Portland Classic at 17 years, 11 months, 6 days
Vancouver Golf Club
This week’s Canadian Pacific Women’s Open site, Vancouver Golf Club, was founded in 1910. The par 35-37 course, designed by Charles Locke, has only one par 3 on the back nine and ends with five consecutive par 4s. It will measure 6,681 yards.
The last time the club hosted the tournament in 2012, New Zealand’s Lydia Ko became the LPGA’s youngest winner at age 15 and four months.
Here are the previous winners of the tournament at Vancouver:
| Year | Winner | Score | Noteworthy |
| 2012 | Lydia Ko | 275 | Beat Inbee Park by 3 |
| 2003 | Beth Daniel | 275 | Beat Juli Inkster by 1 |
| 1991 | Nancy Scranton | 279 | Scranton’s only major championship |
| 1988 | Sally Little | 279 | Beat Laura Davies by 1 in du Maurier Classic, a major |
| 1988 |
Etc.
Both winners of prominent tournaments in Portland last week have 2015 Epson Tour wins. Brooke Henderson won the Four Winds Invitational before winning the Cambia Portland Classic last week. Hannah O’Sullivan captured the Gateway Classic at Longbow early in the Epson Tour season and then took home the U.S. Women’s Amateur last week in Portland. … Get your reservations for Chicago. After Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Wash., hosts the 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the Windy City will hold court for two years – Olympia Fields (2017) and Kemper Lakes (2018). Additionally, the 2016 International Crown will be held at Rich Harvest Farms in Chicago. … Next week’s Yokohoma Tire LPGA Classic in Prattville, Ala., will be the final American event until the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship Nov. 19-22.
)
)
)
)
