Afternoon Solheim sweep for U.S.
After finding themselves trailing Europe following a sluggish start to the Solheim Cup, the Americans settled down Friday afternoon, pulling away with a record-setting performance.
The United States swept the afternoon four-ball matches to take a 5½-2½ lead in West Des Moines, Iowa.
Lizette Salas and U.S. newcomer Danielle Kang each won two matches, teaming to beat Carlota Ciganda and Caroline Masson 1 up for the Americans’ lone full point in the morning foursomes, then leading the U.S. to its first ever four-ball sweep in the afternoon.
“This is the history we really don’t want. We want the history on Sunday night. We want the Cup,” U.S. captain Juli Inkster said. “We’ve got a lot of work (ahead). I know (European captain Annika Sorenstam) is going to get that team fired up.”
Salas and rookie Angel Yin routed Ciganda and Emily Pedersen 6 and 5, and Kang and Michelle Wie topped Madelene Sagstrom and Jodi Ewart Shadoff 3 and 1.
In the other four-ball matches, Brittany Lincicome and Brittany Lang beat Masson and Florentyna Parker 3 and 2, and Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller edged Charley Hull and Georgia Hall 2 and 1.
In the morning foursomes, Americans Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson rallied to halve with Hull and Mel Reid. For Europe, Hall and Anna Nordqvist beat Paula Creamer and Austin Ernst 3 and 1, and Karine Icher and Catriona Matthew topped Lewis and Piller 1 up.
The U.S. found a lot more success in four-ball play — dominating so thoroughly that it did not trail in any of the four matches.
Salas and Yin, 18, set the tone for the afternoon. Salas opened with three straight birdies to win those holes, and wins on consecutive par 5s helped the two end the match in 13 holes.
The 6-and-5 win was the second-largest in Solheim history.
“Everything kind of fell together,” Salas said.
PGA Tour: Ryan Armour shot a career-best 9-under-par 61 for a share of the lead with Webb Simpson after two rounds at the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C. Armour and Simpson were at 13-under 127 halfway through the PGA Tour’s final event of the regular season. Simpson shot a 64.
Henrik Stenson was a stroke behind them after a 66. Ollie Schniederjans and Vaughn Taylor were 11-under.
First-round leader Matt Every followed his 61 with a 72 to slip six strokes off the lead. McIlroy’s health: Rory McIlroy, who said Sunday that back spasms might keep him from competing again until next year, decided his health is good enough for him to play in the FedEx Cup playoffs, beginning with the Northern Trust next week on Long Island. U.S. Amateur: Four collegians from the South advanced to the semifinals at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades (Los Angeles County).
Texas’ Doug Ghim eliminated Scotsman Connor Syme 2 and 1 to keep alive the chance of a Longhorns sweep of this year’s U.S. amateur titles. Texas’ Sophia Schubert won the Women’s Amateur on Sunday.
Also advancing were Clemson’s Doc Redman, Virginia Tech’s Mark Lawrence Jr. and Vanderbilt’s Theo Humphrey.
Tour Champions: Kevin Sutherland shot a 7-under 65 for a share of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open lead in Endicott, N.Y. Sutherland had eight birdies and a bogey to join Wes Short Jr. atop the first-round leaderboard.
European Tour: Defending champion Anthony Wall moved into the last 16 at the Paul Lawrie Match Play with a 1-up victory over Haydn Porteous in Bad Griesbach, Germany.