Friday 18 September 2015 17:06, UK
Team USA and Team Europe finished the morning foursomes with 2 points each on the first day of The Solheim Cup in St.Leon Rot in Germany
The United States duo of Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel led from the front, putting the first point on the board for the USA. They defeated Suzann Pettersen and Anna Nordqvist on the 16th hole, finishing the top game 3&2.
The European's quickly responded with a win from Charley Hull and Melissa Reid in the second match of the day against Michelle Wie and Brittany Lincicome. Another win shortly followed to put Team Europe ahead as Catriona Matthew and Sandra Gal finished the bottom match with a 3&2 win over Stacy Lewis and Lizette Salas.
Lexi Thompson and Christie Kerr put the second point on the board for the USA in a match they had led from the start, leaving the points level after the morning session.
Suzann Pettersen & Anna Nordqvist lost to Paula Creamer & Morgan Pressel 3&2
Pressel and Creamer needed just a par to go 1 up on the first hole, but a mistake from Pressel on the 4th hole evened up the match and it looked a tight battle as the teams remained all-square after 6 holes.
But after the initial retaliation from Europe, Morgan Pressel ensured momentum stayed with Team USA with a birdie on the 7th hole to regain the lead.
It was a tough morning for the putter of Suzann Pettersen. After missing a birdie chance on the eighth to get back to all-square, she then left her attempt short on the ninth to allow Paula Creamer to put the USA 2 up at the turn.
Another missed putt for Pettersen on 11 and the American's had a firm grip on the lead, and a clutch putt from Pressel on 13 put them 4 up on the Europeans. Pettersen responded with a birdie on 14 to go back to 3 down, but a par put from Creamer on the 16th was enough to secure the 3&2 win.
"We felt very comfortable and confident and tried not to get ahead of ourselves", Creamer said.
Charley Hull & Melissa Reid beat Michelle Wie & Brittany Lincicome 2&1
A difficult start for the USA meant Hull and Reid only needed a par to go in front on the 1st hole. A birdie on the 6th put the American's back to all-square, but it wasn't long before Europe regained their lead on the 7th hole.
Wie holed a birdie put on the 13th put the match back to all-square, but again a retaliation from Europe put them back in front on the next hole.
There was a chance for the American's to again put the match back to a level playing field on 16, but Wie missed her put and allowed Hull and Reid to head down 17 with a one shot advantage.
Hull holed a long birdie putt on 17 from off the green, which was more than enough to get the second point of the day and the first Team Europe point of this year's Solheim Cup.
Azahara Munoz & Karine Icher lost to Lexi Thompson & Christie Kerr 2&1
Ahead from the very beginning, Thompson and Kerr were quickly 3 up after 4 holes, and 4 up after 6.
By the 12th hole, Thompson and Kerr were still 4 up and comfortably ahead. But a big fight from Munoz and Icher on the back nine won them three holes in a row, and put themselves in with a chance at 1 down with 3 holes to play.
In the end, the American's had two putts to win the hole on 17, and completed their 2&1 win for the second American point of the morning.
Catriona Matthew & Sandra Gal beat Stacy Lewis & Lizette Salas 3&2
A missed putt from Matthew on the first put the European's on the back foot after the first hole to a group that included the world no.3 Lewis. While it looked like a tough challenge they quickly responded and on the 3rd a par three saw them back to all-square, and after the 7th hole the advantage had shifted in the European favour.
The Solheim veteran showed her experience to put in a long put on the 10th hole but them in front, and at that point were the only European pair ahead of the four matches.
Another putt from Matthew puts them 2- up after 11, and a par from Gal on the 14th was enough to put the pair to 3up with four to play.
A missed opportunity from Matthew let Salas regains a hole on 15 with a birdie but a big eight foot put on 16 from Sandra Gal won the second European victory, this time 3&2.
