Rookies Matilda Castren and Leona Maguire had the perfect start to their Solheim Cup careers as they each claimed two points on the opening day of the 2021 Solheim Cup.
Finland’s Castren was paired alongside Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist for the morning foursomes and afternoon fourballs.
While Ireland’s Maguire played with England’s Mel Reid in the morning and England’s Georgia Hall in the afternoon.
“I couldn’t ask for a better start to my Solheim Cup career. The team got off to a fantastic start, and I think the team room at lunchtime, there was great energy in it. That first tee was incredible, the atmosphere that was there. Hit my drive down the middle was just sort of the icing on the cake,” said Maguire.
Team Europe got off to a blistering start in the morning foursomes clinching 3.5 points out of 4 in four matches that were extremely tight, and all ended up going to 18.
Nordqvist and Castren earned the first point of the day by beating Austin Ernst and Danielle Kang for a 1 up victory.
Celine Boutier and Hall remained undefeated in their pairing when they claimed half a point against Ally Ewing and Megan Khang.
Maguire and Reid triumphed against sisters Nelly and Jessica Korda securing a 1 up victory after draining a short par putt on 18.
In the final match, Charley Hull and Emily Kristine Pedersen rounded off a great morning for Team Europe by rolling in a birdie putt on the last.
“Nothing feels better than winning a point for Europe. I’m so happy! I knew the line and I saw the putt the whole way. I just had to get a little bit of a stroke on it, and I knew I was going to,” said 2020 Race to Costa del Sol champion Pedersen.
It was Team Europe who claimed the first point of the afternoon fourball matches when Nordqvist and Castren produced a commanding 4 up victory over Lexi Thompson and Mina Harigae.
Team USA claimed the next point with Nelly Korda and Ally Ewing secured a 1 up win over Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Madelene Sagstrom.
After another tight contest, it was Americans Jennifer Kupcho and Lizette Salas who earned USA another point when the latter rolled in a birdie putt on the last hole to beat Carlota Ciganda and Sophia Popov.
The final match went all the way to 18 too but Hall’s birdie on 15, which put her and Maguire 1 up, was enough to seal the last point of the day against Yealimi Noh and Brittany Altomare.
“Getting two points is more than I could ask for and playing with Anna was great. We had so much fun today. We both played great, we complemented each other’s games, so the foursome worked really well and so did the better ball,” said Castren.
Maguire added: “I have to give a lot of credit to my two partners. It is a team effort. Both Mel and Georgia made me feel so comfortable out there and that just let me play my own game, play free and do what I do best. I think the captains did a really good job.”
After the first day at the 2021 Solheim Cup, Team Europe have 5.5 points to their name while Team USA have 2.5 points.
Sunday morning foursomes pairings:
7:15 a.m. – Georgia Hall and Madelene Sagstrom (EUR) vs. Danielle Kang and Austin Ernst (USA)
7:27 a.m. – Charley Hull and Emily K. Pedersen (EUR) vs. Lexi Thompson and Brittany Altomare (USA)
7:39 a.m. – Mel Reid and Leona Maguire (EUR) vs. Nelly Korda and Ally Ewing (USA)
7:51 a.m. – Anna Nordqvist and Matilda Castren (EUR) vs. Lizette Salas and Jennifer Kupcho (USA)
