Team USA maintained the three-point lead they picked up from a clean sweep in Friday’s four-balls, by drawing the Saturday morning foursomes 2-2.
At one point during the front nine the American team was up in all four matches, and it looked like they may make another sweep. However, Europe’s final two pairs battled hard to keep their side in the Solheim Cup.
Cristie Kerr & Lexi Thompson def. Jodi Ewart Shadoff & Caroline Masson 5&3
People often say ‘lead by example,’ and that’s exactly what the American pairing of Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson did. The American duo remain unbeaten as a pair, as they dispatched of the European team of Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Caroline Masson 5&3.
The board was red throughout the match as the Americans birdied the first and held onto their lead. For the 15 holes they played, Kerr and Thompson were six-under-par, a score the European’s just couldn’t match and ensured a perfect start for Team USA.
Paula Creamer & Austin Ernst def. Emily Pedersen & Mel Reid 5&3
Despite losing the first hole, Paula Creamer and Austin Ernst recovered to comfortably pick up Team USA’s second point of the day in a 5&3 victory over Emily Pedersen and Mel Reid. The win also sees Ernst pick up her first ever Solheim Cup point, after defeat yesterday to Anna Nordqvist and Georgia Hall.
After 10 holes the pair were 1up, but went on to win three holes on the bounce to crush any thoughts of a European comeback. A closing birdie on 15 secured the win, as the score line moved to 7 ½ - 2 ½ in Team USA’s favor.
Georgia Hall & Anna Nordqvist def. Stacy Lewis & Gerina Piller
Georgia Hall and Anna Nordqvist remain unbeaten as a foursomes pair, as they defeated Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller 2&1. The win put blue on the board for the first time since the final match of the Friday morning foursomes.
At the turn there was nothing to split the two pairs, however, a birdie at 10 for the Europeans and a bogey from Piller and Lewis at 13 saw the pairing of Hall and Nordqvist take the advantage. And it would be a lead they would not let go of, as Hall secured the win with a great putt on the 17th green.
Karine Icher & Catriona Matthew def. Danielle Kang & Michelle Wie 2&1
Karine Icher and Catriona Matthew, like Hall and Nordqvist, remain unbeaten as a foursomes pair, as they defeated the American pairing of Danielle Kang and Michelle Wie 2&1. The match was tightly contested throughout, with no pair gaining more than a two-hole advantage.
However, the momentum that Kang and Wie picked up from their four-ball win yesterday ultimately ran out, despite going 1up through three holes. The experienced European pairing completed their victory on the 17th hole and saw the morning session finish 2-2.
Afternoon Four-Ball Pairings
Mel Reid & Carlota Ciganda vs Brittany Lang & Brittany Lincicome – 12.10 p.m.
Anna Nordqvist & Jodi Ewart Shadoff vs Lizette Salas & Angel Yin – 12.25 p.m.
Karine Icher & Madelene Sagstrom vs Paula Creamer & Austin Ernst – 12.40 p.m.
Catriona Matthew & Georgia Hall vs Cristie Kerr & Lexi Thompson – 12.55 p.m.
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