Teen ace Charley gets Europe ‘buzzing’
THIS year we have already seen Lydia Ko become the youngest woman to win a major at 18 and Jordan Spieth the youngest man to win two majors in a row at 21. Now, are we about to see someone become a Solheim Cup legend at the age of just 19? Irrepressible Englishwoman Charley Hull is well on her way, after following up her remarkable debut in 2013 with another sparkling performance on the first day of the 2015 edition here at St Leon-Rot yesterday. Teaming up with Mel Reid before lunch to claim a point, the teenager said she was ‘buzzing to get back out there’ and it showed in the afternoon fourballs, as she practically carried French partner Gwladys Nocera to victory over Alison Lee and Angela Stanford. Fittingly, in the evening shadows, it was Hull who holed the winning putt to seal a 4&3 victory. Hull’s brilliance helped Europe to a 4-2 first day lead over the Americans, with two matches still to be decided after a lightning threat caused a 65-minute suspension. The day ended badly for the visitors, too, as Spaniard Carlota Ciganda landed a stunning blow by holing out from the fairway. She and partner Reid will resume this morning all square with one to play — they were three down at one point — against Lexi Thompson and Christie Kerr. German duo Sandra Gal and Caroline Masson are one up with three to play against Gerina Pilla and Brittany Lang. Hull and Reid were involved in the critical match in the morning. The Americans were dominant in two of the four matches, while veteran Scot Catriona Matthew showed her experience as she and Gal took control of the anchor tussle. So it came down to the English pair against Brittany Lincicome and Michelle Wie. Poor Wie. Disappointment seems to shadow her every move these days. One in arrears, she missed a short putt at the 14th, then had another golden chance at the 16th following a superb pitch by her partner. But Wie could not convert that either and Hull showed no mercy at the 17th, striking from 25ft to seal the match.