The United States lead the Solheim Cup 10-6 over Europe after the second day’s play at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.
With the scores at 8-4 in after the teams tied the morning foursomes session, they also shared the afternoon fourballs to set the tone for an exciting Sunday with 12 points available.
Europe won eight singles matches in the 2003 Solheim Cup at Barsebäck in Sweden and they will need to achieve eight points again to reach the 14 points needed to retain the Cup. The United States will need four-and-a-half points to reach the 14 ½ needed to earn outright victory.
Here is a recap of Saturday afternoon’s play:
Saturday Four-Ball Results
Alison Lee/Megan Khang (USA) defeated Anna Nordqvist/Madelene Sagstrom (EUR) 4 and 3
Americans and good friends Alison Lee and Megan Khang started their four-ball match hot and never let up on Europeans Anna Nordqvist and Madelene Sagstrom. Starting on No. 2, Alison Lee holed out from the fairway to move to 1 up, a moment punctuated by wild celebrations from their caddies. After a momentous hole, the U.S. held their 1-up lead through six holes until Khang made a birdie on hole 7 and Alison Lee made a birdie on hole 8 to jump to 3 up. They lost No. 10 to the Swedish duo and sat 2 up until hole 14, where Khang made a right-to-left eagle putt to make it 3 up with four holes to play. The Americans sealed the deal on the 15th, finishing with a 4-and-3 victory.
“Honestly, if you couldn’t tell by my voice, I’ve had a little too much fun,” said Khang, whose voice went hoarse from her exuberant yelling. “I guess you can never have too much fun on this team. But like Alison said, it’s always great when you get to play with one of your best friends. And what an electric start to the day. It was crazy that that happened. Obviously the caddies are going a little more viral right now, but honestly, we’re just here having a good time and embracing the fans out here.”
Andrea Lee/Rose Zhang (USA) defeated Linn Grant/Celine Boutier (EUR) 6 and 4
Rose Zhang and Andrea Lee continued their excellent partnership as they secured a 6-and-4 victory over Linn Grant and Celine Boutier in the afternoon four-balls. The Americans went 1 up on the first hole and never relinquished their lead, sitting 2 up as they made the turn. On the back nine, the American duo turned on the style with birdies on 10, 11 and 12 before Andrea Lee holed her bunker shot on No. 13 to put the Stanford pair 5 up with five to play. On the 14th, Zhang left herself an eagle putt which she duly rolled in to rapturous applause as she sealed a dominant victory.
“I think we both played incredible golf today, super solid,” said Andrea Lee, who now sits undefeated as a four-ball pairing with Zhang after their wins in Friday and Saturday’s four-ball matches. ”Whenever I was out of the hole, Rose was there for me, and whenever Rose was out of the hole, I was there for her. We both made a lot of putts and we just had so much fun out there. Just so grateful to have a partner like Rose.”
Carlota Ciganda/Emily Pedersen (EUR) defeated Ally Ewing/Lexi Thompson (USA) 2 and 1
The European duo of Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen overcame an early round deficient to win the first point of the four-ball round for Team Europe. The two squared off against Solheim Cup veterans Ally Ewing and Lexi Thomson. The U.S. got out to an early lead with Team Europe recording a bogey on the first hole. The Americans quickly set the tone with Ewing adding a birdie on No. 2 to give the American a two-point advantage. The Europeans tried to slow their roll with Ciganda recording a birdie on No. 3 and stayed at a 1-up lead for the Americans for the next three holes. The Europeans tied it up with another Ciganda birdie and the match stayed tied until No. 13 when the Europeans took the advantage away from the Americans going 1-up. They added another point to their match heading into No. 16 looking to put the match away when Thompson stuck her tee-shot less than five feet from the pin and converted the birdie, giving the Americans a fighting chance. This time, the Europeans brought out their heroics with Pedersen landing her approach shot on No. 17 a few feet from the pin and the Americans conceded the birdie to the Europeans with neither Americans converting the tying putt, giving the Europeans a 2 and 1 lead and their fifth points of the week.
“Yeah, I think we played amazing golf, morning and afternoon,” Ciganda said about the match. “Obviously it’s really tough to beat the Americans. They were playing some great golf, and with the home crowds, it’s not easy. But I told Emily, let’s wear them out. Let’s hit as many greens as we can. The putts are going to drop. I knew. We are just quality. I knew we are really good and I knew we could do it. We just have to believe. I’m just so happy for her because she’s an amazing player, and we did so well. So just stay in the moment after losing two down after two holes, and then I was like, come on, we can do this, and we are going to do it for Suzann, for Europe and for the team.”
Charley Hull/Georgia Hall (EUR) defeated Allisen Corpuz/Lilia Vu (USA) 2 up
In what was a tough battle throughout the entirety of the match, Charley Hull and Georgia Hall came out on top with a 2-up victory over Allisen Corpuz and Lilia Vu. It was just the second time the two had been paired together at the Solheim Cup, but the best friends looked extremely comfortable out on the course, reading each other’s putts, laughing up the fairway, and cheering one another onto their first win as a pair. The duo went 1-up on hole 2, then went 1 up again on holes 5-7, before taking a 1 up lead that they would hold until the end on No 10. It was Hull who sank the hole-winning birdie on 10, then another long one on 12 to put the Europeans 2 up. On 13, Vu went in for birdie first with a solid putt, but Hull answered with a long putt of her own to keep things tied. The Americans struggled with their putts from 6-15 feet, with Corpuz missing a 6-footer for birdie on 14 and both missing their birdie putts within 15 feet on No. 16. After neither could convert for birdie on the par-3, they match went dormie moving on 17. This time, Corpuz sank the 12-foot putt to put the pressure on Hull, who just missed her putt within 10 feet. On the final hole, a must win for the Americans to earn at least half a point, Corpuz hit her tee shot far right into the gallery while Vu found the fairway with Hull. Corpuz’s second shot hit her target but caught the ridge and rolled onto the backside of the green. Meanwhile Vu hit her second shot well short into the bunker while Hull and Hall both stuck it within 20 feet. Though Lilia’s shot out of the bunker was good, she and Corpuz conceded the match when the later missed her long putt for birdie.
“I was getting Georgia to read my putts. Felt like I was struggling yesterday with a few of my reads. I just know that Georgia is a very, very good green reader, so I trust her with my life for putting, so there you go,” said Hull. Hall added, “Yeah, shame I can’t stop mine online, but I’m obviously glad she trusts me. Obviously done a bit of extra work helping her. I must say that whatever line I said she hit it right there. She putted amazingly and she really like played so good today. So, yeah.”
Session scores: USA 2 Europe 2
Overall scores: USA 10 Europe 6
