Laura Davies set a new Solheim Cup points record, but the momentum swung towards the USA after the second day fourballs at the Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle in Ireland. One point down overnight and trailing 5-7 after the morning foursomes, the holders won the fourballs 3-1 to level the score at 8-all.
Davies had done her best to set Europe on the right road when she claimed the top match by a comfortable 4 and 3 margin in the company of Melissa Reid. The victims were two of the best in Michelle Wie and Brittany Lang.
The only player to compete in all 12 Solheims, 47-year-old Davies was relieved as well as delighted to reach the 24 ½ points she needed to overtake Annika Sorenstam as the all-time record holder.
“To be honest, it was a bit embarrassing not to have the most points when I’ve played in every match,” said England’s ever-honest 47-year-old. “So it’s great to have made it. It’s cleared the pressure and now I can relax a bit more without that extra edge in the singles.”
With four birdies in a row from the third, Davies’ all-English side was four up at the turn.
Reid then made her own contribution with an eight foot eagle putt at the long 12th. For the 24-year-old rookie – who had suffered two heartbreaking final green defeats on day one – it was a first Solheim point.
The closest match featured Cristie Kerr and Morgan Pressel against world No.2 Suzann Pettersen, and the new European star, Caroline Hedwall.
The USA were two up with four to play, but Hedwall made a winning birdie at the long 15th and Pettersen danced in delight by draining a 35-foot birdie at the short 16th. The crowd went mad.
But Pressel was having none of it – and she silenced the home fans by ramming in an eight foot birdie putt to win the 17th. They held on for the one-hole victory.
Paula Creamer, who is set to play in all five matches, retained her week’s unbeaten record with a 3 and 1 win over Maria Hjorth and Azahara Munoz in the final fourball alongside Brittany Lincicome.
“We are all so pumped up and it is great to be back tied,” said Creamer. “It was nice to see some red on the board and we are ready for tomorrow.”
Rookie Stacy Lewis claimed her first point alongside Ryann O’Toole, who has more than proved her point. She was a controversial Captain’s wild card selection and was in poor form coming into the event.
The 2 and 1 win over Sandra Gal and Christel Boeljon made it 2 ½ points for O’Toole from three outings. The score was also 8-all at the same stage at Rich Harvest farms in Illinois two years ago and America went on to win 16-12.
Europe has only won the singles three times, but the wise Davies had some words of advice for herself the rest of Alison Nicholas’s troops.
“We’ve messed up so many time on the final day,” she said. The key is not to look at the scoreboard. I’m usually looking at leaderboard but I think sometimes we see blue and then start thinking too much.
“Keep the head down and just try and win your own point. That’s what we all have to do.”
DAY TWO RESULTS – Saturday 24th September
Fourballs (Europe names first)
Laura Davies and Melissa Reid beat Brittany Lang and Michelle Wie by 4 and 3
Suzann Pettersen and Caroline Hedwall lost to Morgan Pressel and Cristie Kerr one hole
Sandra Gal and Christel Boeljon lost to Stacy Lewis and Ryann O’Toole 2 and 1
Maria Hjorth and Azahara Muñoz lost to Paula Creamer and Brittany Lincicome 3 and 1
Europe 1 USA 3
Overall score: Europe 8 USA 8
Singles draw (Europe names first)
10:10 Catriona Matthew v Paula Creamer
10:20 Sophie Gustafson v Stacy Lewis
10:30 Anna Nordqvist v Morgan Pressel
10:40 Laura Davies v Juli Inkster
10:50 Melissa Reid v Vicky Hurst
11:00 Christel Boeljon v Brittany Lincicome
11:10 Sandra Gal v Brittany Lang
11:20 Maria Hjorth v Christina Kim
11:30 Suzann Pettersen v Michelle Wie
11:40 Caroline Hedwall v Ryann O’Toole
11:50 Azahara Muñoz v Angela Stanford
12:00 Karen Stupples v Cristie Kerr
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