The Solheim Cup Brings Big Crowds and Great Golf to Gainesville

Written by Kaitlin Hill | Photos by Austin Kaseman

This September, hundreds of thousands of golf fans gathered in Gainesville, Virginia, to watch top players from the LPGA take on the Ladies European Tour in the Solheim Cup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.

Founded in 1990 by Karsten Solheim, a Norwegian-American golf club manufacturer, the tournament is a biennial event that alternates between the United States and Europe, having last been hosted at Finca Cortesin in Andalusia, Spain.

This year, in its 19th running, the Cup returned to the United States in both location and in title, as the U.S. clinched a 15.5-12.5 win over Europe, their first victory since 2017. A birdie by Lilia Vu on the 18th hole sealed the deal.

Left: The crowd looks on as Alison Lee tees off at the first hole. Right: Rose Zhang.

Of the American team, Captain Stacy Lewis says, “From the moment this team was together, they were together… I’m just so proud of them. I’m proud that they get this moment where they get to celebrate tonight and win this Cup,” expressing pride in the golfers, caddies, and team support system in the post-win press conference.

Not just a win for team USA, the tournament was a great success for the region, with the highest ticket sales for competition days in Solheim Cup history and record-breaking coverage on NBC, the Golf Channel, and Peacock, putting all eyes on Virginia.

Following the tournament, the LPGA announced the launch of its inaugural LPGA Legacy Initiative to celebrate the 2024 Solheim Cup victory. Creating a lasting impact on the communities that host the tournament, the Legacy Initiative awarded $10,000 each to five local charities: CitySwing Foundation, Hispanic Heritage Foundation, National Links Trust, Our Military Kids, and the Wake-Robin Golf Club.

Of the experience at Robert Trent Jones Golf Course, Team USA’s Nelly Korda sums up the weekend best, saying, “This was probably the most fun I’ve had on a golf course ever. Just the team, the team environment, the caddies, everyone getting along, the fans. Everyone was so incredible. We all vibed really well off of each other. This is probably the most I’ve laughed and the most I’ve fist-pumped ever on a golf course. It was just an amazing week and a dream come true.” ML

For more of Austin Kasemen’s photos of the 2024 Solheim Cup, visit MiddleburgLife.com.

Published in the October 2024 issue of Middleburg Life.