JGAA Alumna Sarah Schmelzel Receives First-Ever Captain’s Pick For Solheim Cup Team

U.S. Solheim Cup Team Captain Stacy Lewis has chosen JGAA alumna Sarah Schmelzel as one of her captain’s picks for the 2024 Solheim Cup, scheduled for September 13-15 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia. Schmelzel joins Lexi Thompson, Jennifer Kupcho and the nine players who automatically qualified for the U.S. Team after the AIG Women’s Open. The qualifiers include Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu, Lauren Coughlin, Ally Ewing, Allisen Corpuz, Megan Khang, and Andrea Lee, who secured their spots through the U.S. Solheim Cup Team Standings, while Rose Zhang and Alison Lee earned their places via the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

Schmelzel will make her Solheim Cup debut as a rookie on the U.S. Team. The biennial Solheim Cup is the premier international team event in women’s professional golf. In 2022, the European Team retained the Cup after a 14-14 tie with the U.S. Team at Finca Cortesin in Spain. Historically, the U.S. Team leads the European Team with a record of 10-7-1 in Solheim Cup competition. The former JGAA player has 14 career top 10s, with six of them being recorded in the 2023-2024 LPGA season. Her best finish this year took place at the Blue Bay LPGA with a runner-up result at 15-under par. In college, she earned All-America Honorable Mention while at the University of South Carolina and was a 2016 Golfweek All-American.

“Such a well-deserved opportunity for Sarah who has put together quite the resume on the LPGA Tour,” said JGAA Executive Director Scott McNevin. “All of us at the JGAA will be rooting for her loud and proud!”