Europe Leads Morning Session 2 ½ - 1 ½
Europe kicked into high gear early on Friday to take the lead after the morning matches. Much of the morning foursomes looked deadlocked between Team USA and Team Europe with each leading in two matches. Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson of the U.S. held on to halve the first match of the day and Lizette Salas along with rookie Danielle Kang won the second match 1up. But the second two matches would belong to Team Europe with Anna Nordqvist and rookie Georgia Hall pulling out the biggest victory of the morning with a 3&1 victory over Paula Creamer and Austin Ernst. Team Europe’s Catriona Matthew and Karine Icher won another point for Europe by battling back from 2down to defeat Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller.
Americans Sweep Afternoon
For the first time since 2009, Team USA leads following day one of the Solheim Cup with 5 ½ to Europe’s 2 ½.
The Americans never trailed in any match during Friday’s four-balls and swept the afternoon session for the first time in the history of the event. It’s also the first time Team USA won every match in a session.
Danielle Kang and Michelle Wie defeated Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Madelene Sagstram 3 &1. Lizette Salas and Angel Yin defeated Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen 6&5. Brittany Lang and Brittany Lincicome defeated Caroline Masson and Florentyna Parker 3&2.
Unstoppable Pod
In her third Solheim Cup appearance, Lizette Salas shifted her game into another gear. She caught fire Thursday starting with rookie Danielle Kang with whom she won her morning match 1up. In the afternoon she played alongside another rookie in Angel Yin. The pair dominated their match, never trailed, and went on to close out Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen 6&5 to earn the first point of the afternoon.
“She helped me when I needed help, and so we made a great team. And a lot of good chemistry out there. A lot of laughter. And that's what we needed to pull off this point,” Salas told Golf Channel after her round. “I've known her for a while and to have her as a partner I knew it would be a good fit. Just the way I was putting kind of made her a little less stressful and vice versa.”
Kang also played again in the afternoon alongside longtime friend Michelle Wie. The pair never trailed in their match with Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Madelene Sagstrom. They won 3&1 to remain the only undefeated pod on day one. Kang and Salas are the only players, on either team, to win two points on Friday.
In the Rotation
Captian Juli Inkster held to her plan of getting all her players out to play on Friday. While captain Annika Sorenstam wouldn’t reveal her plan on Thursday, she followed suit with all of her players participating in Friday’s matches as well.
Saturday Morning Foursomes Matches
7:10 a.m. CT
Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Caroline Masson vs Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson
7:22 a.m. CT
Mel Reid and Emily Pedersen vs Paula Creamer and Austin Ernst
7:34 a.m. CT
Anna Nordqvist and Georgia Hall vs Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller
7:46 a.m. CT
Catriona Matthew and Karine Icher vs Michelle Wie and Danielle Kang
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