U.S. sweeps fourball for 3-point lead

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA» The Americans trailed Europe after a sluggish start to the Solheim Cup.

The U.S. settled down on Friday afternoon, pulling away with a record-setting fourball performance.

The United States swept the afternoon fourball matches to take a 5 1/2-2 1/2 lead at Des Moines Golf and Country Club.

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 fourball 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 fourball 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. would find more success in fourball play — dominating so thoroughly that it never trailed in any of the four matches.

Armour, Simpson share 2nd-round lead.

Ryan Armour shot a career-best 9-under 61 for a share of the lead with Webb Simpson at the Wyndham Championship.

Armour and Simpson were at 13-under 127 halfway through the PGA Tour’s final regular-season event. Simpson shot a 64.

Henrik Stenson was a stroke behind them after a 66. Ollie Schniederjans and Vaughn Taylor were 11-under. Schniederjans shot 63, Taylor had a 66. First-round leader Matt Every followed his 61 with a 72 to slip six strokes off the lead.

Sutherland shoots 59 to make history.

Kevin Sutherland shot a 7under 65 for a share of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open lead, three years after scorching the En-Joie course for the only 59 in PGA Tour Champions history.

Sutherland had eight birdies and a bogey to join Wes Short Jr. atop the first-round leaderboard.

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