USA lead Europe in Solheim Cup

LOS ANGELES, California: The United States swept all four fourball matches to surge to a three-point lead over Europe on Friday, the first day of the Solheim Cup women’s golf matches.

The Americans’ afternoon surge at Des Moines Golf and Country Club in Iowa marked the first time in the history of the Ryder Cup-style competition that the US have swept an entire session — something Europe has done three times.

Europe held a slim 2 1/2 to 1 1/2 lead at the end of the morning foursomes, but the Americans head into Saturday’s matches leading 5 1/2 to 2 1/2.

It was a dominant display. Europe never led at any point in any fourball match.

Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller finished it off with a 2 & 1 victory over Charley Hull and Georgia Hall — both of England — the tightest match of the afternoon.

Hull chipped in at the 15th to put some late pressure on the Americans, but Lewis rolled in a birdie putt at 17 to finish it.

Angel Yin and Lizette Salas thumped Spain’s Carlota Ciganda and Denmark’s Emily Pedersen 6 & 5.

Michelle Wie and Danielle Kang beat Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom and England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff 3 & 1.

Brittany Lincicome and Brittany Lang beat Florentyna Parker of England and Germany’s Caroline Masson 3 & 2.

Salas and Solhiem Cup newcomer Kang produced the United States’ only win of the morning foursomes, beating Ciganda and Masson 1 up before going on to win again with different partners.   —AFP