Altomare qualifies from the Solheim Cup points standings, Yin and Park get in via Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings
AURORA, Ontario, Aug. 25, 2019 – After a two-year qualification period that featured plenty of twists and turns, Brittany Altomare, Angel Yin and Annie Park secured the last three automatic spots on the 2019 United States Solheim Cup team following the conclusion of the CP Women's Open at Magna Golf Club in Canada on Sunday.
Altomare, who closed with a four-under 68 to tie for 13th at the CP Women's Open, locked up the final roster berth from the Solheim Cup points standings while Yin and Park booked their places on Team USA via the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings.
Altomare and Park will each make their Solheim Cup debuts at Gleneagles in Scotland from Sept. 13-15 while the long-hitting Yin will return for a second time after being selected as a captain's pick for the 2017 edition, at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in West Des Moines, Iowa.
"I'm really relieved (to make the U.S. team)," said Altomare, who has produced excellent form with two top-fives and nothing worse than a tie for 29th in her last eight starts on the LPGA Tour, the highlight being a runner-up spot at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. "It's like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I'm so excited to represent the U.S. and be on Team USA. Playing for (U.S. captain) Juli (Inkster), it's just going to be such an incredible week."
The first seven automatic qualifying spots on Inkster's U.S. team to face Europe in the biennial match-play competition were secured before the CP Women's Open by Lexi Thompson, Nelly Korda, Danielle Kang, Lizette Salas, Jessica Korda, Marina Alex and Megan Khang.
Inkster will round out her 12-player team by announcing two captain's picks in New York City on Monday.
"I am really happy with my 10 players right now, the problem is I have more players who deserve to be on the team than I have spots available," said Inkster. "That is always the most difficult part of being captain - calling those players who played well enough to be going to Scotland but who won't make the trip. I owe it to the other 10 players to give them the best teammates possible, the ones who will give them the best chance to win. Are my picks going to be perfect? I don’t know."
Team Europe was finalized two weeks ago, after the conclusion of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open in North Berwick, Scotland. Europe will be represented at Gleneagles by: Carlota Ciganda, Anne van Dam, Caroline Hedwall, Charley Hull, Georgia Hall, Azahara Munoz, Caroline Masson, Anna Nordqvist, Celine Boutier, Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Bronte Law and Suzann Pettersen.
The 16th edition of The Solheim Cup will be played on the world-famous PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles in Perthshire, Scotland, where Team USA will bid to win the trophy for a third successive time under Inkster's captaincy. Scotland will host the competition for the first time since Loch Lomond Golf Club was the venue in 2000.
In 2015, the Americans staged the biggest come-from-behind victory in the event's history to beat Europe 14.5-13.5 at Golf Club St. Leon-Rot in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. Two years ago, Inkster's team triumphed over Europe by a commanding margin of 16.5-11.5 at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in West Des Moines, Iowa.
The U.S. have won 10 of the 15 previous editions of The Solheim Cup, including five of the last seven.
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