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| Photo courtesy of Solheim Cup Europe Facebook Page |
It's all square, Europe 8 - USA 8 after day two of the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles, so a thrilling day of singles matches lies ahead to decide the winning team.
Unlike the first day of the Solheim Cup, players had to contend with winds gusting over 30 miles an hour over the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles today.
Europe began the second day with a slender lead, 4½–3 ½, but that lead soon disappeared when sisters Jessica and Nelly Korda continued their scintillating form from the previous day to beat the undefeated Spanish and English pairing of Carlota Ciganda and Bronte Law in a convincing fashion, 6&5.
Anna Nordqvist and Anne van Dam made a fast start against USA’s Morgan Pressel and Marina Alex and were 3up after 8 holes, but the tide changed dramatically as the Americans responded with four straight birdies to edge ahead 1up. The US pair kept the momentum going to move to three up with three holes to play, and whilst Europe pulled a hole back on the 16th, the Americans clinched victory with a par on the following hole.
Charley Hull and Azahara Munoz, who partnered each other to European success on the opening foursomes session, matched this with a 4&3 win over Danielle Kang and Meghan Khang.
Similarly, the winning European pairing of Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier impressed again, beating Lizete Salas and Amy McDonald 3&2, to complete the foursomes on level footing, 2-2, and keep the Europeans clinging onto their one point lead.
In the afternoon fourballs, Suzann Pettersen and Ann van Dam led team Europe, geeing up the crowd on the first tee, and whilst the European pair never got their noses in front of Britany Altomare and Annie Park, it was a closely fought match that van Dam extended to the 18th hole after securing a lengthy putt for a half, before the Americans won 1 up after making par on the final hole.
Europe's impressive pairing of Georgia Hall and Celine Boutier versus Ally McDonald and Angel Yin found themselves 4 down after 7 holes, but they made a gallant comeback to level the match on 16. A winning par putt from Hall took them to 1up on the par-3 17th and Boutier's birdie on 18 secured a 2up victory.
A point was shared between Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Caroline Masson and Lexi Thompson and Marina Alex. This was a see-saw match with the lead changing between both pairings, but never more than 1up. Europe's Caroline Masson had a good chance to seal the match with a birdie putt on 18, but there was a deep sigh from Captain Catriona Matthew and fellow players looking on as Masson's putt slid past.
The final match out on the course tippped in the American's favour as Lizete Salas and Danielle Kang beat the Spanish pairing of Carlota Ciganda and Azahara Munoz 2up.
At 8-8, it should be a thrilling final day with 12 singles matches to decide the contest. Europe require 14½ points to win the trophy and the USA need 14 points to retain it.
Sunday Singles:
11:40 Danielle Kang v Carlota Ciganda
11:52 Nelly Korda v Caroline Hedwall
12:04 Lexi Thompson v Georgia Hall
12:16 Annie Park v Celine Boutier
12:28 Angel Yin v Azahara Munoz 1
12:40 Megan Khang v Charley Hull
12: 52 Lizette Salas v Anne Van Dam
13:04 Jessica Korda v Caroline Masson
13:16 Brittany Altomare v Jodi Ewart Shadoff
13:28 Marina Alex v Suzann Pettersen
13:40 Ally McDonald v Bronte Law
13:52 Morgan Pressel v Anna Nordqvist
Sunday Singles:
11:40 Danielle Kang v Carlota Ciganda
11:52 Nelly Korda v Caroline Hedwall
12:04 Lexi Thompson v Georgia Hall
12:16 Annie Park v Celine Boutier
12:28 Angel Yin v Azahara Munoz 1
12:40 Megan Khang v Charley Hull
12: 52 Lizette Salas v Anne Van Dam
13:04 Jessica Korda v Caroline Masson
13:16 Brittany Altomare v Jodi Ewart Shadoff
13:28 Marina Alex v Suzann Pettersen
13:40 Ally McDonald v Bronte Law
13:52 Morgan Pressel v Anna Nordqvist
