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| From left: Anna Nordqvist, who aced the 17th to win the match 2 and 1 with Caroline Hedwall against Morgan Pressel and Jessica Korda. Hedwall is now undefeated 3-0: three wins from three matches played so far this year |
A sensational hole in one from Anna Nordqvist helped Europe stay ahead of the USA in the Solheim Cup after the second day foursomes at Colorado Golf Club.
Trailing 5-3 overnight, the USA side came out firing in the a bid to revenge for defeat at Killeen Castle in Ireland two years ago and avoid the heartbreak of a first loss at home.
The Americans did win the session 2 ½ – 1 ½ – but Europe still lead 6 ½ – 5 ½.
European Captain Liselotte Neumann has tagged Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall as her Swedish Vikings and they were more than ready to raid a point in Colorado.
All square in the top match against Morgan Pressel and Jessica Korda, Hedwall, a double winner on day one, holed a birdie putt at the long 16th to take the lead.
At the 180-yard 17th, Nordqvist did even better. She had a hole in one with a seven iron to close out the match 2 and 1 and claim a vital point.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said the ecstatic Nordqvist. “They played tough but we holed the putts and it is amazing to finish that way. It was a perfectly struck seven iron.”
Another key match involved Scottish brave heart Catriona Matthew and German rookie Caroline Masson.
Matthew had lost both matches on Friday and the pair trailed from the moment they lost the short second to a birdie two against Brittany Lincicome and Lizette Salas.
But, one down playing the 18th, Masson hit a great second shot to eight feet and Matthew holed the birdie putt to clinch what could be a vital half point.
Europe suffered a cruel blow in the top foursomes with Karine Icher and Azahara Munoz, four down after ten holes, clawing it back to all square before losing the 18th and the match to Paula Creamer and Stacy Lewis.
In the final match, the outstanding Suzann Pettersen finally lost a point, going down by 2 and 1 with Beatriz Recari to Michelle Wie and Brittany Lang.
Day One Results
Foursomes: (Europe first):
Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall beat Stacy Lewis and Lizette Salas 4 and 2.
Suzann Pettersen and Beatriz Recari beat Brittany Lang and Angela Stanford 2 and 1
Catriona Matthew and Jodi Ewart-Shadoff lost to Morgan Pressel and Jessica Korda 3 and 2
Azahara Munoz and Karine Icher beat Cristie Kerr and Paula Creamer 2 and 1
Europe 3 USA 1
Fourballs: (Europe first):
Suzann Pettersen and Carlota Ciganda beat Stacy Lewis and Lexi Thompson one hole
Caroline Hedwall and Caroline Masson beat Angela Stanford and Gerina Piller 2 and 1
Anna Nordqvist and Giulia Sergas lost to Brittany Lincicome and Brittany Lang 4 and 3
Catriona Matthew and Charley Hull lost to Cristie Kerr and Michelle Wie 2 and 1
Europe 5 USA 3
Day Two Results
Foursomes (Europe first):
Anna Nordqvist and Caroline Hedwall beat Morgan Pressel and Jessica Korda 2 and 1
Azahara Munoz and Karine Icher lost to Stacy Lewis and Paula Creamer one hole
Catriona Matthew and Caroline Masson halved with Brittany Lincicome and Lizette Salas
Suzann Pettersen and Beatriz Recari lost to Michelle Wie and Brittany Lang 2 and 1
Europe 1 ½ USA 2 ½
Overall Europe 6 ½ USA 5 ½
Second day fourball pairings (Europe first):
12:55 Jodi Ewart-Shadoff and Charley Hull v Paula Creamer and Lexi Thompson
1:10 Azahara Munoz and Carlota Ciganda v Gerina Piller and Angela Stanford
1:25 Caroline Hedwall and Caroline Masson v Michelle Wie and Jessica Korda
1:40 Beatriz Recari and Karine Icher v Cristie Kerr and Morgan Pressel
