Five-time USGA champion Juli Inkster has been tabbed by the LPGA Tour to serve as USA Solheim Cup team captain for a third consecutive time in the biennial competition. Inkster, who won three consecutive U.S. Women’s Amateur titles (1980-82) and the 1999 and 2002 U.S. Women’s Opens, guided the Americans to consecutive victories in Germany (2015) and Des Moines, Iowa (2017). She now looks to become the first captain with three victories when the Solheim Cup is contested Sept. 13-15, 2019 at Gleneagles in Scotland.

“Right now, we have a good thing going,” said Inkster, who currently serves as a golf analyst for Fox.

Before that competition, however, Inkster, 57, hopes to add to her USGA championship portfolio by winning the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open this July at Chicago Golf Club. JoAnne Gunderson Carner has the most female USGA titles with eight.

Lee Earns Second Victoria Open Victory

A lot has happened in Minjee Lee’s golf career since she first tasted victory in a professional event as a 17-year-old amateur. The win in the 2014 Vic Open, a Ladies European Tour event in her home country of Australia, came 18 months after claiming the 2012 U.S. Girls’ Junior title at Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City, Calif.

Since then, Lee, now 21, has amassed three LPGA Tour titles and risen to No. 20 in the Rolex Women’s Rankings.

This past weekend, Lee returned to the Oates Vic Open and rolled to a five-stroke victory over countrywoman Karis Davidson, a 19-year-old making her professional debut. Lee, who owns five worldwide titles, carded a 6-under-par 67 in the final round for a 72-hole total of 13-under 279.

Lee began the final round with a one-stroke lead over Davidson, but an eagle on the par-5 fifth hole kept her pursuers at bay.

“I was a little bit nervous out there coming down the stretch," said Lee, whose younger brother, Min Woo, won the 2016 U.S. Junior Amateur. “But I knew I had somewhat of a lead, so I could just play. Most of the pressure I put on myself, so it’s nice to come out with the win.

“It's pretty tough to win anywhere, but to win at home is a little bit more added pressure.”

Lee is scheduled to play in this week’s Canberra Classic ahead of the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open in Adelaide, Feb. 15-18.

David Shefter is a senior staff writer for the USGA. Email him at dshefter@usga.org.