NEW YORK, United States— Defending champions Europe seized the early
initiative in their Solheim Cup battle with the United States on Saturday,
taking a commanding three-point lead after the opening foursomes.
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Europe, chasing only their second ever victory on US soil
in the biennial team tournament, dominated the powerful American line-up to win
3 1/2 of the four points on offer in the morning session at Inverness Club in
Toledo, Ohio.
All four matches were decided on the final hole, with the
Europeans staging a late rally after it appeared the US women seemed poised to
enjoy the better of the opening skirmishes.
"Obviously there's a long way to go but a dream
start," Europe captain Catriona Matthew said after watching her team take
a 3 1/2 point to 1/2 point lead.
"I watched all the players go through the turn and it
just felt like every little break was going America's way and the momentum was
swinging towards the US," Matthew added.
"But in the last five or six holes everything swung
towards us. I don't remember all four matches going to the 18th
hole
before."
Newly-crowned Women's British Open champion Anna Nordqvist,
of Sweden, got Europe's first points on the board, tapping in a three-foot par
putt to give her and rookie partner Matilda Castren a 1-up victory over
Danielle Kang and Austin Ernst.
Celine Boutier and Georgia Hall then staged a dramatic late
fightback from two down with two to play to halve their match with Ally Ewing
and Megan Khang, to deprive the US of a full point.
Mel Reid and Leona Maguire upset world number one Nelly
Korda and sister Jessica to win 1-up in their game, Jessica Korda missing a
long birdie putt that would have halved the match.
Charley Hull and Emily Pedersen won the remaining foursome
after a roller-coaster battle with Lexi Thompson and Brittany Altomare.
Altomare and Thompson were two up with four to play, but
Pedersen and Hull squared the match with back-to-back birdies on the 15th and
16th holes, and then grabbed a birdie on the last to win.
The US will attempt to bounce back from the opening session
in the afternoon fourball matches.
Eight more foursome and fourball matches will be played on
Sunday, with 12 concluding singles matches on Monday.
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