Northants golfer Charley Hull has been heavily praised by Solheim Cup captain Liselotte Neumann after she played a starring role in Europe’s first victory on US soil at Colorado Golf Club.
The teenager, who was a captain’s pick for the match, won the top game in the fourballs alongside Jodi Ewart-Shadoff on the second day as Europe built a five-point lead going into the singles.
Given the responsibility of going out in the second match, Hull returned the faith in spectacular fashion as she thrashed one of the home team’s best players Paula Creamer 5&4.
Neumann said: “Charley is amazing. Being a 17-year old and handling all this pressure. She has a special game and she brings a lot of energy to our team.
“She plays fearless and it was just awesome to have her on our team. I think we all love Charley.”
European assistant captain Annika Sorenstam, who won 10 majors as a pro, said: “Charley goes out there, she shows no fear, she’s relaxed and she’s having fun, and that’s what you want.”
Creamer added: “Charley’s going to be around for a long time, and it’s pretty neat to see the future of their team.”
Northamptonshire golfer James Northern has an extra reason to look forward to seeing his teenage pal Charley Hull when she returns from the Solheim Cup next week.
As well as congratulating her on helping Europe win the Solheim Cup for the first time on US soil, he also wants to get his hands on a signed golf ball from the player she beat on the last day, Paul Creamer.
In one of the defining moments of the entire match and after producing a devastating 5&4 victory in the singles, the 17-year-old shocked the former US Open champion by asking for her autograph.
Hull, who has known Northern since she was nine years of age, explained: “It was for my friend at home, James, who is a big fan so I thought I’d ask.
“He just deserves it. He said can you please get Paula Creamer’s autograph and I said, okay. When I asked her she said ‘really’? but I got it.”
Northern, who has already received some micky taking from their mutual friends, said: “I spoke to her a couple of weeks before she left and jokingly asked her to get a ball signed by Paula Creamer.
“I never expected she would do that, but it was great for her to think of me. I’ll catch up with her next week when we intend to go out for a meal with her family to celebrate. She was phenomenal.”
Walker Cup
Northamptonshire’s Ryan Evans has just missed out on selection for the GB & Ireland team for the 2013 Walker Cup after being named as a reserve for the match against the USA on September 7-8.
With no Scots and just two Irishman in the 10-man squad, the selectors avoided picking eight English players as they went for Welshman Rhys Pugh, despite his current world ranking of 326.
Evans, who could move into the world’s top 30 this week, was disappointed to miss out after a brilliant summer, when he’s won three major amateur prizes in the UK and France.
The Wellingborough member said: “I’m really disappointed to miss out although I probably would have taken being a Walker Cup reserve after my first event of the year.
“But it all changed around for me at the home of golf when I finished high up in the St. Andrews Trophy – ever since then I’ve played really well and been successful. Unfortunately it has come too late.”
Evans played a pivotal role on his Home Internationals debut last week as the England team regained the title with victories over Ireland, Wales and Scotland at Ganton GC.
He combined with Paul Howard to record a 4&2 win in the morning pairs against Ireland on the opening day, before thrashing his singles opponent 6&5 as England scraped home 8-7.
Despite losing his pairs tie against Wales on the 18th the next day, Evans responded in stunning fashion as he covered the front nine in just 31 strokes on his way to a 7&6 singles victory in a 11-4 team success.
In the knowledge that his hopes of Walker Cup selection depended on a strong display in this event, Evans secured two battling points on the final day against defending champions Scotland.
The plus-four handicapper joined up with Howard to win their pairs game 3&1, before he came from two down after seven holes to clinch a singles victory on the 17th hole as England fought back to win 9-6.
MGU
Paul Hodgkiss (Farthingstone) has given himself a chance of winning the 2013 MGU Order of Merit after finishing third in the Kedleston Goose Comp.
Hodgkiss, who carded rounds of 72 and 76 in the final individual tournament of the series, will now be hoping to collect maximum points in the final county match of the season next month.
In the previous event, fellow county player Ryan Connolly got his hands on the Leicestershire Fox Trophy after finishing in a tie for first place with three-time champion Paul Dixon at Willesley Park GC.
The Wellingborough club champion carded a 36-hole total of 140 to finish level with home club member Dixon.
Both players still couldn’t be separated after four play-off holes so, with darkness descending, the decision was made to share the top prize.