The United States remained in the driving seat with a score of 7 ½ against Europe’s 4 ½ as the morning foursomes on day two of The Solheim Cup at Des Moines Golf and Country Club ended in a tie.
The USA won the top two matches as Europe won the last two for a score of 2-2 in the third session.
In the first match of the day, Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson defeated Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Caroline Masson 5 and 3.
Kerr passed USA Captain Juli Inkster for the most points in USA Solheim Cup history with 19. She also now has the most match wins in USA history with 16, passing Inkster’s 15.
For the second straight day, Kerr and Thompson won the first hole to grab a 1-up lead over their European counterparts, but while on Friday they ended up halving their match, Saturday was never in doubt and they never trailed.
“She putted amazing today, walked in so many putts,” said Thompson. “I just gave her the opportunities and she was just rolling the ball.”
It was another comprehensive 5 and 3 win, for Paula Creamer and Austin Ernst who defeated Mel Reid and Emily Pedersen, in the second match. Creamer now has 8.5 points in foursomes, more than any other United States player.
The Europeans struggled on the back nine, making bogeys at Nos. 10-13 to extend the American advantage to 4 up, and the match ended with a conceded birdie for Team USA at the 15th.
“There’s nothing better than getting a point for your team,” said Creamer. “Yesterday, Austin and I played pretty well. We just went against a strong team. We were definitely motivated to get back out here and get our first point. The rookie over here, I wanted to be with her when she got her first one.”
In the third match, the momentum swung the other way as Anna Nordqvist and Georgia Hall partnered successfully for a second day, defeating Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller by 2 and 1.
The European duo made a quick birdie on the first hole to take an early advantage before the Americans bounced back with wins on holes 4 and 5 to take a 1-up lead. A costly bogey on the next hole squared the match again where it remained until the 10th hole, where Europe won the hole with a conceded par.
The lead extended to 2 up when Nordqvist drilled a 6-footer for par on the par-4 13th. After holes 15 and 16 were halved, Hall made a 12-footer on 16 to go dormie with two to play and put the Europeans on the board by making a 10-footer for par on 17 to put the first blue on the board.
“Yeah, kind of felt it today,” said Hall. “It’s easy to feel like that when you’ve got a partner like Anna. She played amazing both matches. And to get to have some points with her, I’m very happy and we both played well today.”
Moments later, on the 17th green, Catriona Matthew and Karine Icher defeated Michelle Wie and Danielle Kang 2 and 1 in the final morning match.
Matthew and Icher, who have a combined 13 Solheim Cup appearances between them, were down early, with the Americans birdieing the par-3 third to go 1 up. Matthew made birdie from three feet at No. 5 to go all square before Icher’s 20-foot birdie putt at No. 8 gave the Europeans the lead. The experienced pair remained cool under pressure and in the end, Icher’s short par putt at No. 17 sealed a second point for Team Europe.
“I think that was a huge point,” said Matthew, who was named to the team on Wednesday to replace the injured Suzann Pettersen. “We certainly didn’t want to lose another session. Ideally, we wanted to win that session, but to come out with a draw, hopefully we can come out all guns blazing this afternoon and get more points.”
Sorenstam chose to rest Charley Hull for both the foursomes and four-balls on day two, as she was continuing to experience discomfort from a long-standing wrist injury, although all of the team’s 12 players will have to play in the Sunday singles.
The Americans ended the session fairly happy, but both sides were ready for some thrilling four-ball matches, as play continued in hot and sunny conditions on Saturday afternoon.
Day 2 Results and Pairings
2017 SOLHEIM CUP
Day One – Friday 18th August
Morning Foursomes Results
Match 1
8.10am Melissa Reid and Charley Hull (EUR) halved with Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson (USA)
Match 2
8.22am Danielle Kang and Lizette Salas (USA) defeated Carlota Ciganda and Caroline Masson (EUR) 1up
Match 3
8.34am Georgia Hall and Anna Nordqvist (EUR) defeated Paula Creamer and Austin Ernst (USA) 3&1
Match 4
8.46am Karine Icher and Catriona Matthew (EUR) defeated Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller (USA) 1 up
Result Europe 2 ½ USA 1 ½
Afternoon Four Ball Results
Match 5
1:20 p.m. –Michelle Wie and Danielle Kang (USA) defeated Madelene Sagstrom and Jodi Ewart Shadoff (EUR) 3&1
Match 6
1:35 p.m. – Angel Yin and Lizette Salas (USA) defeated Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen (EUR) 6&5
Match 7
1:50 p.m. – Brittany Lincicome and Brittany Lang (USA) defeated Florentyna Parker and Caroline Masson (EUR) 3&2
Match 8
2:05 p.m. – Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller (USA) defeated Charley Hull and Georgia Hall (EUR) 2&1
Result Europe 0 USA 4
Cumulative Result Europe 2 ½ USA 5 ½
Day Two – Saturday 19th August
Saturday Foursomes Results:
Match 9
7.10am Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson (USA) defeated Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Caroline Masson (EUR) 5&3
Match 10
7.22am Paula Creamer and Austin Ernst (USA) defeated Mel Reid and Emily Kristine Pedersen (EUR) 5&3
Match 11
7.34am Anna Nordqvist and Georgia Hall (EUR) defeated Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller (USA) 2&1
Match 12
7.46am Catriona Matthew and Karine Icher (EUR) defeated Michelle Wie and Danielle Kang (USA) 2&1
Result Europe 2 USA 2
Cumulative Result Europe 4 ½ USA 7 ½
Saturday Four Ball Pairings:
Match 13
12.10 pm Mel Reid and Carlota Ciganda (EUR) versus Brittany Lang and Brittany Lincicome (USA)
Match 14
12.25 pm Anna Nordqvist and Jodi Ewart Shadoff (EUR) versus Lizette Salas and Angel Yin (USA)
Match 15
12:40 pm Karine Icher and Madelene Sagstrom (EUR) versus Paula Creamer and Austin Ernst (USA)
Match 16
12:55 pm Catriona Matthew and Georgia Hall (EUR) versus Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson (USA)