(Edina, Minnesota, September 21 2002) The European team rebounded from a 3-1 drubbing in the Saturday morning foursomes at The Solheim Cup to dish out a emphatic pasting by winning all four points in the fourballs to lead the USA 9-7 heading into Sunday’s 12 singles matches at Interlachen GC.
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| Karine Icher – first point |
The undefeated Sorenstam and Koch eased captain Reid’s lunchtime frustrations as they recovered from an early two-hole deficit against Daniel and Ward. The Swedes remained patient and holed over 100-feet of putts as they won six out of the next eight holes in a scintillating 4&3 win.
“It was so important to see some blue numbers on the leader boards after this morning,” said Koch, who extended her Solheim Cup record to seven wins, no losses.
“I was pretty pumped out there and I am so excited about tomorrow now. The teams are pretty even now and people have always said that Europe need a big lead going into the singles, but it’s not that way anymore, we have 12 very strong players in our team.”
Maria Hjorth and Iben Tinning kept Pat Hurst and the normally vociferous Kelli Keuhne quiet after as they scraped in with a priceless point.
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| Carriedo – six under par on her ball |
The drama ended at the last hole when the French rookie nailed a three wood from 228-yards to ten feet and safely two putted for her first point in the event.
“That was probably the best shot I have ever played in my life,” said the 23-year-old.
And in the most dramatic match of the day, Laura Davies and Sophie Gustafson sealed the hammering with a nail-biting 1-up victory over Kelly Robbins and Emilee Klein. The US Pair raced into a 2-hole lead after six holes, but Davies pulled off two enormous shots under pressure to square the match.
The 38-year-old from Surrey belted a five iron to 10-feet at the eighth for birdie and at the long par five tenth, found the green with a magnificent 227-yard two-iron to ten feet and safely two putted.
The pair won the next three holes with yet more sterling mid-iron work from Davies along with a birdie from Gustafson at the 12th. But Klein fought back bravely, winning the 15th and Robbins made a magnificent birdie from eight feet at the 17th, after her ball was stuck in a divot for her approach shot.
Davies held on, despite finding thick, deep rough around the 18th green, her first chip off the green did not upset her, she just knocked the next one next to the cup to claim her 16th Solheim point.
“We were a bit irritated this morning after losing 3-1 and I know the other girls were disappointed because they were playing so well,” said Davies.
“I don’t think anyone’s head went down, we were just more determined and the captain got the picks spot on.”
And with poor European performances in the singles in previous encounters, the team plan is to win them outright, letting the result take care of itself.
“The Americans have a history of having good singles days and we will just have to make sure it is our turn,” added Davies. “That was the goal at the beginning of the week, regardless of how we stood on Saturday night. We wanted to win six and a half points in the singles, just so we can prove that we can win them.”
The 12 singles begin on Sunday at 0910am CST with Europe needing 14 points to retain the trophy and 14 and a half for outright victory.
