Solheim Cup: Europe in charge as bad light stops play

Carin Koch’s European team took charge of the opening day of the 2015 Solheim Cup as Carlota Ciganda holed out for eagle to keep the momentum going in the afternoon fourballs.

England’s Charley Hull made it two wins from two as she and Gwladys Nocera helped put Europe 4-2 before darkness forced a suspension in play with two matches still on the course.



For a report on the Friday foursomes CLICK HERE

In one of those remaining matches, Christie Kerr and Lexi Thompson were two up on Mel Reid and Ciganda heading down 16, keeping some red on the board.

But a European birdie on 16 followed by Ciganda’s stunning approach to 17 which found the cup meant a whitewash was on the cards with Caroline Masson and Sandra Gal 1up through 15 in the final match.



In the top match Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel came into things full of confidence after their foursomes victory (against Nordqvist and Pettersen) and their cause was helped by Caroline Hedwall looking out of touch which has been the case for much of the season.

But Nordqvist wasn’t going to be beaten twice in a day and, while Hedwall slowly found her feet, she took control with a tee shot to tap-in distance at the 3rd before winning four on the trot from the 8th, a procession of accurate irons setting up mid-range birdies.

They eventually ran our comfortable 4&3 winners.

Hull and Reid were separated after their morning heroics but it didn’t seem to affect Hull’s youthful exuberance, this time teaming up with Nocera against Lee and Stanford.

The 19-year-old birdied the 5th to go one up and then threw in another couple at the 8th and 10th.

Birdies followed on 11 and 12 en route to a 3&2 victory.

Lee would have likely played in the morning but for a bad bout of food poisoning in the week and she was given the tough task of helping improve Stanford’s very ordinary Solheim Cup record. She couldn’t and Stanford’s record now reads 3-12-3.

Play will resume on Saturday morning at 7.45am. The Saturday Foursomes will start at 09.15am.

If USA can come out firing they could still level proceedings at 4-4 but the momentum is with Europe who will hope to at least hold a two point advantage going into the Saturday matches.