Team EUROPE earned the first point in the morning four-ball matches as Esther Henseleit of Germany, and Emma Spitz of Austria, earned an early lead and never looked back. Through the front nine, the Europeans were 2-up and made three consecutive birdies on the back to close the match out against Lucy Li of Redwood Shores, California, and Yealimi Noh of Concord, California, 5&4. Henseleit made a 35-foot final putt for birdie on No. 14 to end the match.
The United States team were up in as many as four matches in the morning. Emilia Migliaccio of Cary, North Carolina, and Rachel Heck of Memphis, Tennessee, made a strong opening combo for the United States, with experience playing together in two Wyndham Cups (the AJGA’s annual East versus West Ryder Cup-style event with boys and girls).
Americans Gina Kim and Jennifer Chang also channeled chemistry from Wyndham Cup, leading by as many as 4-up through 12 holes to secure a Team USA point. Kaitlyn Papp of Austin, Texas, and Brooke Seay of Rancho Santa Fe, California, won their match 2&1. Papp, a four-time Rolex Junior All-American, also won the 2016 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball.
In the penultimate match of the morning, France’s Mathilde Claisse nailed two back-to-back birdies down the stretch to earn a point for the Europeans. She and partner Julia Engström of Sweden, fought back from 2-down to play most of the back nine all square.
Swedes Linn Grant and Amanda Linnér were 2-up after 16 holes, but recently-crowned 2017 U.S. Girls’ Junior champion Erica Shepherd of Greenwood, Indiana, birdied No. 17 to extend the match. The Europeans’ par was good for the final point of four-ball and a tie in matches.
In the lone foursome match to finish in the evening, Heck and Seay teamed up for a 4&3 victory using an eagle on No. 9 to go 3-up at the turn. When play was suspended after 8 p.m., Europe led in three matches and two matches were all square.
The United States team leads the PING Junior Solheim Cup, 4-3, after foursome matches were suspended because of darkness. Weather moving through the area forced a suspension for 3 hours, 33 minutes but at the completion of four-ball matches, the United States and Europe were tied 3-3.
The United States leads the all-time series 5-2-1 and has won the previous four contests, including 2015, which was the first time either team won on foreign soil.
