Steinhauer named 2011 U.S. Solheim Cup Assistant Captain
May 22, 2010
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- LPGA players Sherri Steinhauer and Juli Inkster have been selected as assistant captains for the 2011 U.S. Solheim Cup Team by Captain Rosie Jones. Steinhauer, an eight-time LPGA Tour winner and four-time U.S. member of The Solheim Cup, will share duties with Jones and Inkster at Killeen Castle in County Meath, Ireland, from Sept. 23-25, 2011. "Part of my job as Captain of the 2011 Solheim Cup Team is to build and surround myself with the strongest team to pursue a win in Ireland," Jones said. "By picking Juli Inkster and Sherri Steinhauer, I am confident that I have selected the best possible assistant captains to help get that job done. Juli, Sherri and I have been long-time friends and competitors on the LPGA as well as teammates on several Solheim Cups played over a 20-year period. Our trio of leadership of the U.S. Solheim Cup Team will include the same passion, dedication and competitiveness that we displayed as players. It will be our job to share that wealth of experience with our 2011 U.S. players while leading them to victory." The 2011 Solheim Cup will be the 12th staging of the biennial, trans-Atlantic team match-play competition featuring the best 12 U.S.-born players from the LPGA and the best 12 European-born players representing the Ladies European Tour (LET). The U.S. leads the series 8-3, but faces a challenge in Ireland, however, as the European Team has won all of its three Solheim Cup events on European soil. "I am thrilled and honored to be selected by Rosie as assistant captain along with Juli Inkster for the 2011 Solheim Cup," Steinhauer said. "As Solheim Cup players, Rosie and Juli have represented our county with pride, grace and grit. I cannot think of two better people to work alongside. While I can still play my way onto the team, I am excited that I will be in the U.S. team room no matter what. Either way, being a part of Rosie and Juli's team will no doubt bring excitement to Killeen Castle in Ireland."
In her days as a member of the U.S. squad, Inkster recorded 18 points over eight Solheim Cups, including an overall singles record of 6-1-1. Her most recent appearance came at the 2009 competition played at the Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois, where her U.S. team beat the Europeans by four points. Inkster's 18 points are the most ever won by a U.S. Solheim player and rank second in Solheim Cup history behind Europe's Laura Davies, who has won 23 ½. "I am honored that Rosie has such faith in me to choose me to be an assistant captain," said Inkster. "I look forward to helping her and Sherri lead the U.S. team in Ireland. The Solheim Cup has been such a big part of my LPGA career for so many years and this will be a continuation of those great memories." In their careers on the LPGA Tour, Steinhauer and Inkster combined for a total of 39 wins and nine major championships. Inkster's last win came at the 2006 Safeway International Presented by Coca-Cola, while Steinhauer's latest victory was carded at the 2007 LPGA State Farm Classic. Both full-time active players, Inkster and Steinhauer will bring a wealth of knowledge, spirit and leadership to the U.S. Team and provide Captain Jones an inside the ropes perspective on prospective teammates. Highlights of Sherri Steinhauer's Career/Solheim Cup Career |
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