FROM LEFT: European Team members Anna Nordqvist of Sweden, Catriona Matthew of Scotland, Graeme Matthew of Scotland and Suzann Pettersen of Norway celebrate as Carlota Ciganda of Spain and the European Team makes a birdie putt on the 18th hole to win the match with her team-mate Azahara Munoz of Spain over Gerina Piller and Angela Stanford of the United States Team during the afternoon four-ball matches at the 2013 Solheim Cup at the Colorado Golf Club in Parker, Colorado, yesterday.
PARKER, United States/Colorado: Europe swept the afternoon fourball matches to seize a five-point lead over the United States yesterday and stand poised to retain their Solheim Cup golf crown.
The European women, who have never won the Trans-Atlantic match play showdown on US soil, take a 10.5 to 5.5 lead into today’s 12 concluding singles matches.
No team has come back from more than a two-point deficit to win.
France’s Karine Icher finished off a perfect afternoon for Europe when she rolled in a birdie putt from several feet off the green as darkness was falling at the 18th hole of the Colorado Golf Club.
That gave her and Spain’s Beatriz Recari a 1 up victory over Americans Cristie Kerr and Morgan Pressel.
In other fourball matches, rookies Jodi Shadoff and Charley Hull defeated Paula Creamer and Lexi Thompson 2 up, Spain’s Azahara Munoz and Carlota Ciganda defeated Gerina Piller and Angela Stanford 1 up and Caroline Hedwall and Caroline Masson beat Michelle Wie and Jessica Korda 2 and 1.
Anna Nordqvist had got what proved to be a big day for Europe off to a flying start when she aced the 17th hole to seal a European win in the day’s opening foursomes match.
Nordqvist’s hole-in-one on the par-three 17th was thought to be the first in Solheim history and sealed a 2 and 1 win for her and Hedwall over Pressel and Korda.
“I don’t think it has hit me yet,” said Nordqvist. “It was a really good shot, going straight at it. We thought it was -- it might be a little long, but it pitched and hit, and it’s just an unbelievable feeling.”AFP
