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Ladies of the Links: September 6 - Solheim Cup

Sep 6th 2021

The 17th Solheim Cup matches are set to take place at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio from September 4-6. The three-day event is held on a par 71 layout of 6434 yards. The first two days of the event will feature fourball and foursome matches, with twelve singles matches on the final day to determine the winner.

Day One

Saturday Foursomes

Danielle Kang/Austin Ernst (USA) versus Anna Nordqvist/Matilda Castren (EUR)

Nordqvist/Castren jumped to an early 2-up lead after birdies on the 3rd and 4th holes. Kang/Ernst battled back, winning three of the next four holes with pars to go 1-up heading to the 9th tee. Both teams won one of the next four holes before Europe took the 13th through 15th in large part to two bogeys by Kang/Ernst. A birdie by team USA on the 17th put them in position to halve the match on the last. A missed opportunity ended in a 1-up win for Nordqvist/Castren. Team Europe led 1-0.

Ally Ewing/Megan Khang (USA) versus Celine Boutier/Georgia Hall (EUR)

This turned out to be the most disappointing match for team USA in this session. Ewing/Khang took a 1-up lead on the first and extended the lead to 2-up with an eagle on the 2nd. Leading the entire way, team USA entered the 17th hole, 2-up. However, the team of Boutier/Hall hit precision shots and made key birdie putts on both holes. Ally Ewing had a short putt to win the match, but the putt never was close, ending in a halve.

Nelly Korda/Jessica Korda (USA) versus Mel Reid/Leona Maguire (EUR)

Both teams started with a birdie and two pars and all-square through three. The Korda sisters struggled to two bogeys over the next three holes and found themselves 2-down. The match remained the same until Jessica Korda holed out a chip just off the 13th green to go to 1-down. Team USA was unable to draw closer and lost the match, 1-down.

Lexi Thompson/Brittany Altomare (USA) versus Charley Hull/Emily Pedersen (EUR)

An opening birdie by Team Europe put them 1-up. The match was back to all-square following a USA birdie on the second. Wins on the 8th and 9th by Hull/Pedersen put them 1-up after the front nine. A three-under par stretch over the following five holes put three holes in the books for Thompson/Altomare, putting them 2-up through 13. However, Pedersen and Hull got hot in all phases of their game down the stretch, winning three of the last four holes, including the 18th. The result was a 1-up win and a dominating 3 ½ to ½ lead entering the fourball matches.

Saturday Fourball

Nelly Korda/Ally Ewing (USA) versus Nanna Koerstz Madsen/Madelene Sagstrom (EUR)

Europe got off to a fast start in this one, recording birdie/eagle to take a 2-up lead. USA battled back with a birdie on the 5th and a birdie by Nelly Korda on the 7th to even the match. After a birdie by Ally Ewing on the 8th, USA went 1-up in the match. Nanna Koerstz Madsen tied the match after a birdie on the 9th. The match turned on the 13th when Korda’s eagle putt narrow missed, resting on the lip. Madelene Sagstrom immediately conceded the birdie, picking up Korda’s ball before the allotted 10-seconds. The rules official determined this was a violation, awarding Korda an eagle and a 1-up lead for USA. The teams tied the rest of the holes coming in, giving Korda/Ewing a 1-up victory.

Jennifer Kupcho/Lizette Salas (USA) versus Carlota Ciganda/Sophia Popov (EUR)

An eagle by Lizette Salas on the second gave the USA an early lead in this match. A birdie by Ciganda on the 4th followed by Popov on the 5th and 7th put Europe 1-up in the match. Another eagle by Salas, this time on the 8th, sparked the team to three wins over the next six holes to go 1-up through 14. Sophia Popov answered with a birdie on the 16th to even the match. It was Salas again to the rescue on the 18th. Her approach to six feet and a birdie won the match for team USA, 1 –up.

Lexi Thompson/Mina Harigae (USA) versus Anna Nordqvist/Matilda Castren (EUR)

Birdies by Nordqvist and Castren on the 2nd put Europe up in the match. A birdie by Thompson on the third evened the match. As it turned out, that was the only hole Thompson/Harigae won in the match. Four more holes for Nordqvist/Castren put them 4-up through 13. Thompson drained a long birdie on the 14th to extend the match to the 15th. A missed birdie effort on the 16th ended the match, 4 and 3 for Europe.

Yealimi Noh/Brittany Altomare (USA) versus Georgia Hall/Leona Maguire (EUR)

As was the case for much of the day, Europe got off to a fast start, winning the first two holes with birdies. After halving each of the next three holes, Yealimi Noh birdied the 6th and 7th to even the match. USA took at 1-up lead at the turn, but lost the lead after a Georgia Hall birdie on the 10th. Another birdie by Hall on the 15th gave Hall/Maguire the lead that they wouldn’t relinquish, winning 1-up.

Europe led after day one, 5 ½ to 2 ½ .

Day Two

Sunday Foursomes

Danielle Kang/Austin Ernst (USA) versus Georgia Hall/Madelene Sagstrom (EUR)

Europe got off to another quick start, winning the first two holes with birdies. Danielle Kang and Austin Ernst battled back to win three of the next five holes to go 2-up. The momentum switched back to Georgia Hall and Madelene Sagstrom winning two of the next three holes. USA tied the match with a birdie on the 13th and went 1-up with a par on the 14th. The teams halved the remaining holes giving Kang/Ernst a 1-up victory.

Lexi Thompson/Brittany Altomare (USA) versus Charley Hull/Emily Pedersen (EUR)

In a change from the norm so far this Solheim Cup, it was USA that got off to the quick start, going 1-up through two. Back-to-back birdies from Hull/Pedersen put Europe 1-up through four. Long, timely putts helped Thompson/Altomare win three of four holes from the 7th through the 10th. Europe cut the lead to 1-up after the 13th, but Thompson/Altomare shut the door with a birdie on 17, winning 2-and-1.

Nelly Korda/Ally Ewing (USA) versus Mel Reid/Leona Maguire (EUR)

This match was all team Europe, as Nelly Korda continued to struggle. Mel Reid and Leona Maguire won four of the first five holes and were quickly 4-up. A birdie by Korda/Ewing on 6th didn’t change the momentum, as Europe won two of the next three holes, going six-under par on the front nine. Six-down through 12, Nelly Korda had a rare great moment, draining an eagle, but it just prolonged the agony for USA. Mel Reid and Leona Maguire closed the deal, winning 5 and 4.

Lizette Salas/Jennifer Kupcho (USA) versus Anna Nordqvist/Matilda Castren (EUR)

Another fast start saw Europe go 2-up after three. Despite a bogey on the par-5 8th, it was enough for Salas/Kupcho to win the hole, cutting the deficit to one. The teams halved the next five holes. At that moment, Salas got hot with the putter and USA went on to win the next four holes, going two-under par in the process. Team USA won the final match 3-up. Europe led after the Sunday foursomes, 6 ½ to 5 ½.

Sunday Fourball

Yealimi Noh/Mina Harigae (USA) versus Celine Boutier/Sophia Popov (EUR)

Team USA dominated in this match through the first nine, going 3-up. Mina Harigae recorded three birdies in the process. Europe struck back, winning three of the next four holes, all with birdies. Harigae’s 4th birdie of the round put USA back in front on the 14th. A clutch birdie by Noh on the 16th increased the lead to 2-up with two to play. Harigae sealed the deal with a birdie on 17 for a 3-and-1 win.

Jessica Korda/Megan Khang (USA) versus Carlota Ciganda/Nanna Koerstz Madsen (EUR)

The match went back and forth through 11 with both the lead changing three teams. A birdie on the 12th by Koerstz-Madsen, her third of the day, tied the match. After five birdies on the front, neither Korda or Khang recorded a birdie on the back nine. Carlota Ciganda’s birdie on the 15th put Europe in front and they never looked back, winning 1-up.

Jennifer Kupcho/Lizette Salas (USA) versus Mel Reid/Leona Maguire (EUR)

Leona Maguire birdied the first hole, giving Europe the early lead in this match. Lizette Salas got her first birdie of the round on the 4th, evening the match. Salas and Kupcho both birdied the 6th, giving USA a 2-up lead. After Europe tied the match on the 9th, Kupcho recorded back-to-back birdies, putting USA 2-up through 11. The match was all-square through 16 when Kupcho struck again, this time holing out a chip off the green. Mel Reid’s approach on 18 got a fortunate kick out of the rough, leaving her with a little over a foot for birdie. Both Salas and Kupcho missed long birdie attempts. The tap-in by Reid halved the match.

Danielle Kang/Austin Ernst (USA) versus Charley Hull/Emily Pedersen (EUR)

Neither team could make headway early on in this match. USA struck first with a birdie from Austin Ernst on the 5th. That proved to be the only hole USA would win in this match. Pedersen recorded four birdies from the 7th through the 12th, vaulting Europe to a 3-up lead. They sealed the match on the 16th with a par, winning 3-and-2.

Europe led heading into Monday’s singles, 9-to-7.

Monday’s Singles

Lexi Thompson (USA) versus Anna Nordqvist (EUR)

Nordqvist birdied the 2nd hole to take a 1-up lead. Thompson won the 6th with a par to even the match, but Nordqvist went back on top with a birdie on the 7th. Back-to-back birdies by Thompson put her 1-up going into the turn. After both players recorded a par on the 11th, Nordqvist won the 12th and 15th with birdies. Thomspon tied the match with a birdie on the 16th. Neither player was able to drop birdies on the final two holes, halving them with pars to halve the match.

Ally Ewing (USA) versus Madelene Sagstrom (EUR)

An inspired Ally Ewing won the first hole with a par before Sagstrom tied it with a birdie on the 2nd. A par by Ewing was good enough to take a 1-up lead on the 4th, which remained until the 8th. Then Sagstrom got on a roll, winning three of the next five holes, going four-under par in the process. Ewing made a brief surge, cutting the deficit to one after a birdie on the par 5 13th. However, Sagstrom again took control, winning the 15th and 16th to close out the match, 3 and 2.

Jennifer Kupcho (USA) versus Leona Maguire (EUR)

The MVP of the Solheim Cup had to be Leona Maguire, who was on cruise control the entire match. In fact, Kupcho failed to win a single hole, despite shooting a respectable even par through 14 holes. Maguire had five birdies and no bogeys, winning the match 5 and 4, improving her record to 4-0-1 in this year’s Solheim Cup.

Nelly Korda (USA) versus Georgia Hall (EUR)

As has been the case throughout the matches, Europe got off to quick start, going 1-up after the 1st and 2-up after four. Korda showed the grit of the top player in the world, winning four of the next five holes to go 2-up at the turn. A birdie by Hall on the 10th narrowed the deficit for Europe, but Korda quickly went back up two with a birdie on the 11th. Despite losing with hole with an ugly double bogey on the par 4 16th, Korda held on to win the match, 1-up.

Mina Harigae (USA) versus Celine Boutier (EUR)

Rookie Mina Harigae played well entering the singles, but really struggled to find her game against Celine Boutier. In fact, she failed to make a birdie and shot four-over par through 14 holes. Boutier won five holes from the 5th through the 13th, all with birdies. She easily took care of business, winning 5-and-4.

Austin Ernst (USA) versus Nanna Koerstz Madsen (EUR)

Nanna Koerstz Madsen went 1-up with a birdie on the opening hole. Ernst evened the match with a par on the 3rd before falling 1-down after bogeying the 7th. Ernst briefly changed the momentum, recording birdies on the 11th and 13th to go 1-up. Failing to convert putts and a miscue that led to a bogey on the 15th found Ernst all-square. A golden opportunity to earn a point was missed for Ernst, as the match was halved.

Lizette Salas (USA) versus Matilda Castren (EUR)

This turned out to be a pivotal match late in the day. Castren took a 1-up lead after the first and while Salas evened it up with an eagle on the 2nd, Castren took the lead again on the 5th. Salas fought back immediately to tie on the 6th before Castren won two of the next four holes to go 2-up. Continuing to battle, Salas won the 12th and 13th with a par and birdie. Castren went back up with a birdie on the 15th. Salas had plenty of opportunities down the stretch but her putter failed her, ending with a 1-up win for Castren.

Brittany Altomare (USA) versus Carlota Ciganda (EUR)

A bogey by Altomare on the first quickly put her 1-down. An eagled on the 2nd squared the match before Ciganda regained the lead with a birdie on the 3rd. Altomare bounced back on the next hole to square the match before running into a four hole stretch in which she went two-over par. Both players won a single hole from the 9th through the 12th, entering the 13th hole with Ciganda leading 1-up. Altomare, one of the best putters on the LPGA Tour this year, got the putter going, winning four of the last five holes and the match, 2-and-1.

Megan Khang (USA) versus Sophia Popov (EUR)

Khang came out fired up and it showed in her play, winning the first two holes. In fact, she won six of the first eight holes, going 6-up in the match. Popov won her first hole on the 9th and made a late run, winning the 13th, 14th, and 15th holes. Khang won the match by a 3-and-2 score after both players recorded a par on the 16th.

Yealimi Noh (USA) versus Mel Reid (EUR)

The 20-year-old rookie took advantage of uncharacteristically poor play by Mel Reid, going 4-up after four. Reid won the next two holes before the players halved the next seven. Noh won the 14th with a par, followed by wins by Reid with pars on the 15th and 17th. Reid missed an opportunity on the last to tie the match, losing 1-down. Both players shot six-over par for the round.

Jessica Korda (USA) versus Charley Hull (EUR)

A slow start by Jessica Korda found herself 2-down after eight, winning only the par 4 6th with a birdie. A winning par on the 9th and eagle on the par 4 11th after driving the green got Korda all-square. She turned up the heat on Hull, who shot even through 17 holes, winning the 14th, 15th, and 17th. All told, Korda did her job in one of the two anchor matches, winning 2-and-1.

Danielle Kang (USA) versus Emily Pedersen (EUR)

Pedersen jumped on Kang, winning the opening hole with a par. Kang bounced back with an eagle on the second to even the match. Pedersen went 1-up two more times on the front nine, only to see Kang even the score. After a two-over par stretch from Kang from the 10th through the 13th, Pedersen took advantage. She played her best golf of the match, recording three birdies and went 3-up through 13. Kang won two of the last three holes, but by then it was a moot point. Pedersen took the match, 1-up.

Europe won the Solheim Cup, 15-13, retaining the cup. Catriona Matthew became the first European captain to win the Solheim Cup back-to-back.