Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist holed-in-one to clinch a morning point in style as Europe tightened their grip on the Solheim Cup and the US’ tempers frayed during a controversial second day in Parker, Colorado, on Saturday.
Europe opened up a 10.5-5.5 lead over the US at the close, dominating the fourballs on an afternoon marred by an astonishing tiff over ball placements between the US pairing of Morgan Pressel and Cristie Kerr and their opponents, Karine Icher and Beatriz Recari.
Relations, already strained in the morning when organizers admitted to a mistaken ruling in Europe’s favor during Friday’s play, became acrimonious as Pressel and Kerr quarreled with Icher and Recari on the 16th hole.
Photo: AFP
Officials needed to step in to place Recari and Kerr’s balls after both shot into a water hazard and could not agree on each other’s ball placement.
Icher and Recari shrugged off the furore to help Europe sweep the fourballs 4-0 and open a five-point lead heading into yesterday’s singles.
Trailing 5-3 after the opening day, the US had pulled within a point after winning the morning foursomes 2.5 to 1.5, but Nordqvist, playing with Caroline Hedwall, fired up the Europeans by acing the 187-yard par-three 17th at Colorado Golf Club.
Photo: AFP
That sealed the clash with Pressel and Jessica Korda 2&1.
Stacy Lewis and Paula Creamer prevailed one-up over Azahara Munoz and Icher, while Michelle Wie and Brittany Lang won 2&1 over Suzann Pettersen and Beatriz Recari to give the US early momentum in the foursomes.
Catriona Matthew and Caroline Masson salvaged a half for Europe in the morning foursomes against Britanny Lincicome and Lizette Salas, before Europe tore through the afternoon.
Jodi Ewart-Shadoff and Charley Hull won two-up over Creamer and Thompson, and Munoz and Ciganda prevailed one-up against Gerina Piller and Angela Stanford.
Hedwall and Masson won 2&1 over Wie and Korda, before Recari and Icher completed the sweep with a one-up win over and Kerr and Pressel following their 16th hole squabble.
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