GERMANY, 19 Sept 2015, (AFP) - With rounds extending to over five hours, three of the afternoon fourballs failed to finish and the overnight score was 8-5 in Europe's favour. But the outcome of the other three matches hung in the balance.
The USA led in two and Europe was one up in the other. The matches will be completed Sunday morning before the start of the 12 final day singles.
The home side had roared into an 8-4 lead after taking the foursomes 3-1. Charley Hull and Suzann Pettersen summed up the morning domination by coming back from four down with seven to play to defeat Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel on the final green.
The pendulum was swinging firmly toward the home side. But Juli Inkster's troops rallied to the cause.
Lexi Thompson and Cristie Kerr sparked the afternoon turnaround in fortunes. They defeated the all-Spanish pairing of Carlota Ciganda and Azahara Munoz by 3 and 2 in the top match.
"We knew we had to win the match and get red on the board," said Kerr. "But it wasn't easy. They played great too. Tomorrow we've got to just take care of our singles matches one by one and see how it goes."
In the second match, Caroline Hedwall and Caroline Masson were one down to Stacy Lewis and Gerina Piller with just two holes to play.
Lewis, the highest ranked player on show at No.3 in the world, has a strangely dismal Solheim record. But the Texan has found the perfect partner in Gerina Piller.
The pair beat the previously unbeaten European pair of Caroline Hedwall and Anna Nordqvist by 5 and 4 in the morning foursomes and continued the form in the afternoon.
The morning win was Piller's first Solheim point and she said: "It's great to get the first one on the board. Stacy and I both played well and now we just want to get the job done."
Catriona Matthew and Karine Icher were one up with four to play against Brittany Lang and Lizette Salas. Matthew, the oldest player at 46, made a telling blow at the short 15th, holing a 12 foot putt for a two to put her side ahead.
In the final match, rookie Alison Lee had a great finish to a long day. She holed a birdie putt to win the 15th – and then Hull missed from inside her.
So the final pair of Lee and Brittany Lang went to bed one up with three to play against Hull and Pettersen.
Solheim Cup scores on Saturday:
Overall score:
Europe 8 USA 5
Saturday
Foursomes
Melissa Reid/Carlota Ciganda (Europe) bt Alison Lee/Michelle Wie (USA) 4 and 3
Charley Hull/Suzann Pettersen (Europe) bt Paula Creamer/Morgan Pressel (USA) one hole
Sandra Gal/Catriona Matthew (Europe) bt Angela Stanford/Brittany Lincicome (USA) one hole
Anna Nordqvist/Caroline Hedwall (Europe) lost to Stacy Lewis/Gerina Piller (USA) 5 and 4
Fourballs
Azahara Munoz/Carlota Ciganda (Europe) lost to Cristie Kerr/Lexi Thompson (USA) 3 and 2
Suspended due to darkness; to finish on Sunday
Caroline Hedwall/Caroline Masson (Europe) one down to Stacy Lewis/Gerina Piller (USA) after 16 holes
Catriona Matthew/Karine Icher (Europe) one up on Lizette Salas/Brittany Lang (USA) after 15 holes
Charley Hull/Suzann Pettersen (Europe) one down to Alison Lee/Brittany Lincicome (USA) after 15 holes
Fourballs (held over from Friday due to thunderstorm/bad light)
Carlota Ciganda/Melissa Reid (Europe) halved with Cristie Kerr/Lexi Thompson (USA)
Sandra Gal/Caroline Masson (Europe) halved with Gerina Piller/Brittany Lang (USA)