U.S. ups Solheim edge
Two years ago, the United States staged the biggest singles comeback in Solheim Cup history.
Only the biggest letdown the event has ever seen will keep the Americans from retaining the cup.
The United States took a 101⁄251⁄2 lead over Europe yesterday in West Des Moines, Iowa, matching its biggest advantage entering the final day.
The Americans took three of the four afternoon fourball matches after splitting the morning foursomes at Des Moines Golf and Country Club. The biennial event concludes today with 12 singles matches.
The U.S. also led 101⁄2-51⁄2 in 1998 and won by four points.
“We’re confident. So we just want to keep it going,” American Austin Ernst said.
Cristie Kerr set a record for career points by an American with 20, teaming with Lexi Thompson to win both of her matches. U.S. captain Juli Inkster held the previous mark with 181⁄2.
Kerr and Thompson beat Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Caroline Masson 5 and 3 in the morning, and topped Georgia Hall and Catriona Matthew 4 and 2 in the afternoon.
In the other U.S. afternoon victories, Brittany Lincicome and Brittany Lang beat Carlota Ciganda and Mel Reid 2-up, and Ernst and Paula Creamer edged Karine Icher and Madalene Sagstrom 2 and 1. Shadoff and Anna Nordqvist beat Lizette Salas and Angel Yin 4 and 2 for Europe’s lone point.
Creamer and Ernst also won in the morning, topping Reid and Emily Pedersen 5 and 3. Europe took the other foursomes, with Nordqvist and Hall beating Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller 2 and 1, and Matthew and Karine Icher defeated Michelle Wie and Danielle Kang 2 and 1.
“I’m ecstatic,” Inkster said. “I think anytime we can split in foursomes that’s a win for us.”
Lincicome started her round with six straight birdies — and Lang made eagle on No.7 by holing out from about 100 yards. The Europeans were within a hole of tying the match for much of the back nine, but Lang put her approach on the 18th hole within inches.
“It just seemed like the hole was the size of Texas. It made it easier,” Lincicome said.
Creamer and Ernst never trailed in winning their second matchup of the day.
Kerr holed out from a sand trap on No. 15 for an eagle that essentially sealed the match — though Matthew missed a long putt that would’ve extended it by less than a foot.
“Lexi had to make some great putts on top of that and I had to make some great putts on top of that,” Kerr said. “We really ham and egged out there. I think that’s why we make such a good team,”
No team has ever rallied from more than four points down to win at either the Solheim Cup or the men’s Ryder Cup.
Stenson up by 1 stroke
Henrik Stenson kept his cool when some birdie chances turned into pars. That patience paid off late in his round.
Stenson shot a 4-under-par 66 to take a 1-stroke lead in the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C.
The 2013 FedEx Cup champion and 2016 British Open winner was at 16-under 194 at Sedgefield with a round left in the PGA Tour’s last regularseason event.
The Swede had four birdies on a five-hole stretch of the back nine to overtake Webb Simpson for sole possession of first place.
Simpson, Kevin Na and Ollie Schniederjans were tied for second. Na shot a 65, Schniederjans had a 66 and Simpson — a North Carolina native who won here in 2011 — had a 68.
McCarron shoots 61
Scott McCarron had two eagles in an 11-under 61 to join Kevin Sutherland atop the PGA Tour Champions’ Dick’s Sporting Goods Open leaderboard in Endicott, N.Y. Sutherland, the first-round leader, had a 67 to match McCarron at 12-under 132 at En-Joie . . . .
Doug Ghim and Doc Redman advanced to the 36-hole final of the U.S. Amateur with semifinal victories in Los Angeles.