Solheim Cup Day 2 Recap
Day 2 saw the sun and the crowds out at Bernardus Golf. The golf was spectacular and the USAS staged a late comeback to set up an intriguing final day.
On Saturday at Bernardus the sun and the crowds came out. The combination of good weather and the weekend saw huge crowds on the course, and it felt that the intensity had picked up from the first day. The stands were rocking, the crowds were cheering and chanting, and the golf was the star of the day.
Europe moved into a 7-5 lead over the United States at the Solheim Cup after a dominant Saturday morning foursomes session at Bernardus Golf, with English rookie Mimi Rhodes continuing her remarkable start to life in the European team.
The two sides had shared the opening day's four points evenly on Friday, with the morning foursomes and afternoon fourballs both finishing 2-2 to leave the match locked at 4-4 overnight. Europe took control on Saturday morning, winning three of the four foursomes matches to move two points clear heading into the afternoon session.
Rhodes, who qualifies for Europe through her English father but has spoken openly about the Australian side of her family, was paired again with French rookie Nastasia Nadaud after the pair had already won together in Friday's fourballs. The partnership delivered a second straight point on Saturday morning, beating an out-of-form Andrea Lee and Auston Kim 4&3 to remain unbeaten together through two sessions.
It was a considerably tougher morning for two of Europe's biggest names. World number six Lottie Woad and veteran Charley Hull, sent out last in the order, were beaten 6&5 by American pair Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin, the heaviest defeat of the session and another off day for one of Europe's most experienced combinations.
Elsewhere in the morning session, Sweden's Maja Stark and Linn Grant ended the previously perfect record of world number one Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz with a 3&2 win, while Leona Maguire and Esther Henseleit held their nerve after a late USA collapse to close out a 1up victory.
That two-point cushion did not survive the afternoon. The USA hit back to win the fourballs session 3-1 and level the match at 8-8 heading into Sunday's singles, with Jennifer Kupcho and Lindy Duncan the late heroes, closing out a 1up win over Carlota Ciganda and Celine Boutier. Kupcho’s heroics on 17 and 18 were immense. The American holed a 50 foot putt to win 17 and get the USA back level and then on 18 she holed a 15 footer to win the match and even up the scores at 8-8 heading into the final day of singles matches.
Stark and Grant were the exception, backing up their morning win with a 2&1 victory over Megan Khang and Lauren Coughlin to give Europe their only point of the session. Rose Zhang and Auston Kim beat Leona Maguire and Nastasia Nadaud 3&2, with Rhodes rested for the afternoon after her twin wins alongside Nadaud.
Charley Hull and Lottie Woad were sent out together for a fourth time in four sessions and lost again, going down 1up to Yealimi Noh and Andrea Lee despite a Woad birdie on the 17th to keep the match alive. It leaves Europe's highest-ranked pairing with just half a point from four matches together across the two days.
Image courtesy of The Solheim Cup
Thus the Solheim Cup moves to Sunday's 12 singles matches at Bernardus Golf, with the USA needing 14 points to retain the trophy and Europe requiring 14.5 to win it back. It is all setup for a thrilling finish.