U.S. poised to retain Solheim Cup
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 10 1/2- 5 1/2 lead over Europe on Saturday at 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 10 1/2-5 1/2 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 18 1/2.
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. STENSON BOLTS TO WYNDHAM LEAD >> Henrik Stenson shot a 4-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead in the Wyndham Championship at Greensboro, North Carolina.
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 regular-season event of the season.
Webb Simpson, Kevin Na and Ollie Schniederjans were tied for second. EAGLE LANDS FOR MCCARRON — TWICE >> Scott McCarron had two eagles in an 11-under 61 to join Kevin Sutherland atop the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open leaderboard at Endicott, New York.
Sutherland, the firstround leader, had a 67 to match McCarron at 12-under 132 at En-Joie.
McCarron also had eight birdies and a bogey. He matched his career best set in 1999 in the PGA Tour’s Air Canada Championship.
McCarron played the first five holes in 5 under, making his first eagle on the par-5 fifth. He hit a 3-wood 270 yards to 15 feet to set up the eagle putt.
Joey Sindelar, from nearby Horseheads, shot his second straight 67 to join Jerry Smith (67) and Corey Pavin (68) at 10 under. Sindelar won the PGA Tour’s B.C. Open in 1985 and 1987 at En-Joie.
Gymnastics
MOLDAUER EARNS U.S.
ALL-AROUND TITLE >> Yul Moldauer won the allaround title at the U.S. men’s gymnastics championships in Anaheim, overcoming an early bobble on high bars to hold off Oklahoma teammate Allan Bower and all but lock up a spot on the world championship team.
Moldauer posted a twoday total of 171.600, a full point better than Bower and nearly two points clear of 2016 Olympic alternate Donnell Whittenburg. Moldauer, the 2016 NCAA champion, wasn’t quite as crisp in the finals as he was in preliminaries, but it hardly mattered. Shortly after sticking his dismount on parallel bars despite clipping one of them on the way down, Moldauer embraced Sooners coach Mark Williams before celebrating with his teammates.
Akash Modi, the reigning NCAA champion, began the night with the best chance at chasing down Moldauer but ended up fourth thanks to significant form breaks on four of the six events.
MLS
TORONTO CONTINUES TO
ROLL >> Nicolas Hasler scored his first goal of the season off a header to give Toronto FC the lead for good in a 3-1 victory over Chicago that ended the Fire’s 11-game home unbeaten streak.
MLS-leading Toronto (14-3-8) is undefeated in seven games. Chicago (128-5) has lost three straight and has just one win in its last seven.
Hasler broke a tie in the 63rd minute, and Sebastian Giovinco capped the scoring in the 90th with his 12th goal of the season.
David Accam tied at 1 for Chicago off a rebound in the 54th.
Marco Delgado opened the scoring for Toronto in the 14th. Delgado punched in short kick ball after goalkeeper Matt Lampson failed to gather a save on Hasler’s shot from the center of the box. MONTREAL 3, REAL SALT LAKE 1 >> Ignacio Piatti scored twice for the second straight game and the host Montreal Impact beat Real Salt Lake for their fourth victory in a row. ORLANDO CITY 1, COLUMBUS 1 >> Giles Barnes scored in the 67th minute and host Orlando tied the Crew to keep its slim playoff hopes alive. SPORTING KC 2, FC DALLAS 0>> Diego Rubio and Gerso Fernandes each scored and Graham Zusi had two assists for host Sporting KC. DC UNITED 1, COLORADO 0 >> The host Rapids’ Jared Watts scored an own goal with a careless back pass in the 27th minute. VANCOUVER 2, HOUSTON 1 >> Fredy Montero scored on a first-half penalty kick for Vancouver and assisted on a goal from Yordy Reyna for the host Whitecaps.