Nelly Korda finally experienced a Foursomes defeat at the Solheim Cup, as Team Europe secured a crucial 7-5 lead against the USA after a nail-biting session. What a day!
With the score tied at 4-4, US Captain Angela Stanford sent out her super-duo, Korda and Allisen Corpuz – a true power couple boasting five consecutive wins until then. They teed off against the Swedish pairing of Maja Stark and Linn Grant. Just as on Friday, the American favorites got off to a shaky start: their first drive went straight into trouble. But this time, there was no swift recovery. After missing a mid-range putt on the seventh hole, the previously undefeated Korda and Corpuz suddenly found themselves two holes down. Then Stark ignited her game! She chipped in from well off the green for an eagle on the eighth hole, giving Europe a three-hole lead. Korda's putt on the ninth slid past the hole, and suddenly, the duo was facing a monumental deficit at the turn: four holes down.
But the Americans didn't surrender their undefeated record without a fight, winning the first two holes on the back nine to halve their deficit. However, the Europeans remained steadfast, securing a magnificent 3&2 victory on the 16th when Stark drained a mid-range putt, sending the roaring crowd into ecstasy. "This is the best feeling ever," Stark exclaimed. "If we avoid bogeys, we're truly tough to beat."
Immediately after, Europe's Leona Maguire and Esther Henseleit secured a narrow one-up victory in a thrilling showdown against the US pairing of Jennifer Kupcho and Rose Zhang. On the 18th, with everything all square, Zhang failed to escape the sand bunker, presenting the Europeans with a golden opportunity to seal the hole and the match. Henseleit then executed a brilliant pitch from off the green, landing it inches from the flagstick, clinching the decisive point for Europe. "Honestly, I just wanted to make contact and get the ball forward. There was certainly some luck involved," beamed a delighted Henseleit.
In the third match, Europe Captain Anna Nordqvist once again sent out her dynamic rookie duo, Mimi Rhodes and Nastasia Nadaud, to compete against Andrea Lee and Auston Kim. The debutantes repaid their captain's trust with another composed performance, securing a 4&3 victory and making history as the first rookie pair to earn two points in the same Solheim Cup. "After yesterday's win, we felt really comfortable. We played very cleverly, hit many fairways and greens, and created countless chances," said Nadaud. The final match, however, proved to be a damper: Europe's top duo, Charley Hull and Lottie Woad – both ranked in the world's top 10 – suffered a crushing 6&5 defeat at the hands of Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin.
It was clear even before the tournament:
