Europe regained the Solheim Cup in thrilling fashion with a last gasp 15-13 victory over the US at Killeen Castle on Sunday.
It all came down to the last three singles matches and they all went in Europe’s favor, with Azahara Munoz clinching the vital point in the final match with a one hole win over Angela Stanford.
In the second-to-last singles, Caroline Hedwall, two down two to play against Ryann O’Toole, won the last two holes for a vital half-point.
Photo: Reuters
Suzann Pettersen had started the fightback. One down with three to play against Michelle Wie, she pulled out a final hole win.
The world No. 2 birdied the final three holes, holing from eight feet at the last. It was a first ever Solheim singles win for the 30-year-old Norwegian, and a bitter defeat for Wie.
For Alison Nicholas’s European team, the 7-5 singles score meant it was a fourth win from 12 contests — but first since 2003 — and they will go to the Colorado Golf Club in two years’ time hoping to win in the US for the first time.
Tied eight-all overnight, Europe received an early gift of a point when Cristie Kerr was forced to withdraw from the final singles against Karen Stupples with an injured wrist.
Out on the course, Catriona Matthew gave Europe a great lead with a 6 and 5 victory over the US talisman, Paula Creamer, in the top singles and Sophie Gustafson added a second point for the home side with a final green win over Stacy Lewis.
Brittany Lang claimed the first point for the US with a 6 and 5 margin over Sandra Gal and Morgan Pressel made sure of four wins out of four with a great comeback against Anna Nordqvist.
The American was two down after eight holes but, following a short rain delay, she came back and won five holes in a row and went on to win by 2 and 1.
The oldies match between 51-year-old Juli Inkster, the oldest ever Solheim player, and 47-year-old Laura Davies, the only one to play in all 12 contests, came down to the last hole.
Davies, the home crowd favorite, was one up playing the par four 18th and both players bunkered their second shots. However, Inkster nearly holed her third from 30 yards, while the English woman failed to make a 10-foot par putt. The match ended all square and it was a half-point for the visitors.
Christina Kim comfortably defeated Maria Hjorth before two rookies both finally won their first Solheim Cup points. American Vicky Hurst beat Melissa Reid by two holes and Europe’s Christel Boeljon overcame Brittany Lincicome by the same margin.
With the score tied at 12.5-12.5, it was then left for Europe’s tail end threesome to produce the goods and clinch the most memorable of victories.
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