Suzann Pettersen made sure it was honours even after the opening foursomes with an eight foot birdie putt at the 18th in the final match to win a point for Europe against the USA at the Solheim Cup here Friday. Pettersen and Sophie Gustafson, ahead most of the day at Killeen Castle, lost the 17th to a par but they hit back with the three at the 18th to sneak the win over Juli Inkster and Brittany Lang.
“It was great to get the point and keep the score even,” said Norway’s Pettersen, the world No.2 after her putt left the scores all square at 2-2. “Sophie played the perfect shot and my putt was right in the middle.” In a morning of changing fortunes, Americans Paula Creamer and Brittany Lincicome pulled off the most unlikely victory against the English pair of Karen Stupples and Melissa Reid.
In the second match, the Americans trailed two down with just four holes to play. But the home duo lost the 15th to a birdie, the 17th to a par and then took six down the 18th after Stupples hit her drive into rough and then bunkered the third shot. It was a one hole victory for Creamer and Lincicome. Michelle Wie and Cristie Kerr gave the US the first point in the top match with a 2 and 1 win over Maria Hjorth and Anna Nordqvist.
