Germany 18 Sept 2015, (AFP) - All square with the USA after the morning foursomes, the home team got the upper hand in the afternoon fourballs and moved 4-2 ahead overnight.
With an hour’s play having been lost due to a thunderstorm, Europe won two of the fourballs and two matches were unfinished due to bad light.
In a dramatic finale to the third match, Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson were one up with two to play, but, in near darkness, Carlota Ciganda holed out for an eagle with her second shot at the 17th to make the match all square. They will play the 18th in the morning.
"I have no words to describe that final shot," she said after holing the full nine iron from 140 yards. "This is what you dream about."
In the final match, the German pair of Sandra Gal and Caroline Masson were one up with three to play on Gerina Piller and Brittany Lang.
Anna Nordqvist, assisted by Caroline Hedwall, set the tone in the fourballs with a comprehensive 4 and 3 win over American duo Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel in the top match.
The same two Americans had beaten Nordqvist and Suzann Pettersen by 2 and 1 in the foursomes but the Swede was determined for revenge. She was in outstanding form, packing six birdies into the 15 holes.
Having halved the long second in four, she won the short third with a two and then made four more birdies in a row from the eighth.
Hedwall, who won a record five out of five matches in Colorado two years ago, has been out of sorts this season, but her confidence grew and she also played her part as the pair continued a successful run that began in 2013.
"We didn’t play badly but I couldn’t make any putts in the morning," said Nordqvist. "I actually thought I might be left out in the afternoon, but I was back with Caroline and we just seem to work well together."
Hedwall added: "I think I was too pumped up at the start, but Anna played some absolutely unbelievable golf."
Afternoon play was interrupted for just over an hour due to a thunderstorm, but it couldn't dampen the home spirits.
Charley Hull, a winner with Melissa Reid the foursomes, and Gwladys Nocera claimed the second of the fourballs with a 3 and 2 victory over newcomer Alison Lee and the unfortunate Angela Stanford, who has now lost her last eight Solheim ties.
Hull, just 19, made four birdies in a row from the tenth to gain control. "It felt great, a great day," said the happy go lucky teenager. "Felt I played well all day and now just can’t wait for tomorrow."
Lee was an intravenous drip yesterday due to food poisoning and there were doubts over whether she would even manage to play in Sunday’s singles. She had recovered enough to gain the nod from Captain Juli Inkster, but it turned out to be an unhappy debut.
Kerr and Thompson, winners in the foursomes, again proved to be a formidable fourball partnership. Ahead early, they lost the 11th and 12th to be all square with six to play. They won the next two holes – but Ciganda’s glory shot at the 17th set up the thrilling end to a long day.
For European captain Carin Koch, it was a very good day’s work. "I am proud of the way my team performed today but there is still a long way to go," said the Swede.
Solheim Cup scores on Friday:
Fourballs
Anna Nordqvist/Caroline Hedwall (Europe) bt Paula Creamer/Morgan Pressel (USA) 4 and 3
Gwladys Nocera/Charley Hull (Europe) bt Alison Lee/Angela Stanford (USA) 3 and 2
Unfinished due to thunderstorm/bad light, to be completed Saturday:
Carlota Ciganda/Melissa Reid all squre with Cristie Kerr/Lexi Thompson (USA) after 17 holes
Sandra Gal/Caroline Masson (Europe) one up on Gerina Piller/Brittany Lang (USA) after 15 holes
Foursomes
Suzann Pettersen/Anna Nordqvist (Europe) lost to Paula Creamer/ Morgan Pressel (USA) 3 and 2
Charley Hull/Melissa Reid (Europe bt Michelle Wie/Brittany Lincicome (USA) 2 and 1
Azahara Munoz/Karine Icher (Europe) lost to Cristie Kerr/Lexi Thompson (USA)2 and 1
Catriona Matthew/Sandra Gal (Europe) bt Stacy Lewis/Lizette Salas (USA) 3 and 2
Overall score:
Europe 4 USA 2