US secure five-point lead at Solheim Cup
los angeles — The United States take a commanding five-point lead into Sunday’s Solheim Cup singles matches after another dominant fourball display in the match play showdown with Europe on Saturday.
The United States won three of four fourball matches — and five of eight points on offer on the day — to stretch their lead to 10 1/2 to 5 1/2 going into Sunday’s 12 singles matches.
After being whitewashed in Friday’s fourball matches, the Europeans couldn’t gain any ground with a split of Saturday morning’s four foursomes matches at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in Iowa.
And the Americans, trying to retain the title they won in Germany in 2015, went on to win three afternoon matches to extend their lead.
Veteran Cristie Kerr set a US Solheim Cup record with her 19th career point when she teamed with Lexi Thompson for a 5 & 3 fourball victory over England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Germany’s Caroline Masson.
3 Of the fourball matches were won by dominant US team
US captain Juli Inkster held the previous US record with 18 1/2 points.
Kerr finished the day with 20 career points as she and Thompson teamed up again to beat Scotland’s Catriona Matthew and England’s Georgia Hall 4 & 2 in fourball play.
Kerr’s birdies at the first and third put the US duo 2 up before Hall’s eagle at the par-five fourth trimmed the deficit.
But the European pair never managed to get ahead, and Kerr and Thompson were 2 up through 14 when Kerr holed out from a bunker for eagle at the 15th to put the Americans on the brink of victory. —