ANDALUCIA, Spain — The United States and Europe halved the Saturday morning foursomes matches, each winning two points to sit 7-5, respectively, heading into the afternoon. The stars of the a.m. show were Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz, who defeated Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier 5&3 to help lift the Americans on what was a challenging morning, but Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen and Spain’s Carlota Ciganda made some hay of their own with a 2&1 win to secure the European team’s first foursomes point of the week. It’s the Americans’ 6-2 foursomes record that’s propelled them to the lead as it is their best record in that format in Solheim Cup history on foreign soil. And with things heating up in Andalucia, this afternoon’s matches are sure to produce plenty of drama as both sides work to to hold the lead ahead of the Sunday singles session.
Take a look at the Saturday morning results and Saturday afternoon matchups in the fourth session of the Solheim Cup.
Saturday Morning Results
Match 9 – Emily Kristine Pedersen/Carlota Ciganda def. Lilia Vu/Jennifer Kupcho 2&1
In the first match of day two, Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen were fired up from the start, notching the lead with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 5 and 6 to go 2-up. Jennifer Kupcho tied the match with her putt at No. 8, after struggling with her putter through the first seven holes. Europe regained the match lead on No. 10 after Ciganda’s birdie putt was short enough for a conceded par to win the hole. With Europe 2-up heading to the 15th tee, the U.S. team attempted a comeback after a clutch birdie putt on No. 15, but it was two no avail, as Ciganda and Pedersen came out on top, 2 and 1, to add another full point to the European total.
Match 10 – Lexi Thompson/Megan Khang def. Anna Nordqvist/Leona Maguire 1 up
The European duo of Anna Nordqvist and Leona Maguire led the majority of the front nine in their match with Lexi Thompson and Megan Khang. But the Americans kept things tight, never letting their opponents pull clear by more than two holes. Maguire’s bogey putt at No. 9 pulled the Americans back within one, and another European bogey at No. 10 brought the match back to even. The U.S. Team grabbed its first lead when Thompson put her birdie putt to tap-in range, going 1-up with the conceded par. The back-nine was all Team United States taking the 1-up lead and holding it for six of the last eight holes, securing the win for the Americans.
Match 11 – Nelly Korda/Allisen Corpuz def. Georgia Hall/Celine Boutier 5&3
The American duo of Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz got off to a hot start on Saturday morning, with Korda winning the first two holes with birdies to build a 2-up lead. They extended the advantage to 3 up when Corpuz dropped a par putt at No. 7 after Celine Boutier drained a long bogey putt, forcing the Americans to win the hole outright. Korda and Corpuz extended the lead to 5 up with a par at No. 13, but Hall won the 14th with a 15-foot birdie putt to stay alive. Two holes later, Korda sealed the 5-and-3 victory with a 25-foot birdie putt, punctuated by a big fist pump.
Match 12 – Maja Stark/Linn Grant def. Danielle Kang/Andrea Lee 1 up
It was the Swedish twosome of Maja Stark and Linn Grant that would strike first going 1-up on the first hole where it would be held for the first three holes. The Americans, Danielle Kang and Andrea Lee, kept the pressure on the Swedes tying the match up on 4 where it stayed until 8. Grant sunk a clutch birdie putt for a quick one hole lead before the U.S. tied it right back up again. Finding themselves 1-down on 12, Kang sunk a winning putt met with roars from the U.S. fans and praise with Captain Stacy Lewis and Vice Captain Natalie Gubles. Back and forth the match went with Europe taking 1-up leads on 13 and 15 before Stark took the air out of the Americans sails with a go ahead birdie putt on 17. With the Americans looking to force a tie, Grant was not going to let that happen sinking her own birdie putt to clinch the point for Team Europe.
Saturday Afternoon Matches
Match 13, 1:40 p.m. – Nelly Korda/Ally Ewing vs. Charley Hull/Leona Maguire
Match 14, 1:55 p.m. – Cheyenne Knight/Angel Yin vs. Anna Nordqvist/Caroline Hedwall
Match 15, 2:10 p.m. – Rose Zhang/Andrea Lee vs. Madelene Sagstrom/Emily Kristine Pedersen
Match 16, 2:25 p.m. – Danielle Kang/Lilia Vu vs. Carlota Ciganda/Linn Grant
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