Top seed Nelly Korda and second-seeded Lilia Vu each won foursome matches to help the United States take a 3-1 lead over Europe at the Solheim Cup after Friday’s morning session.
The Americans, who won the first foursome session last year, dominated the back nine holes at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club and went into the four foursome matches in the afternoon in first place.
Defending champions Europe are seeking an unprecedented fourth consecutive title, while the U.S. women, who last won in 2017, are looking to end their losing streak and avoid two consecutive defeats on home soil for the first time.
Korda and her American compatriot Allisen Corpuz won their last three holes and defeated Germany’s Esther Henseleit, the Olympic silver medalist in Paris, and England’s Charley Hull 3&2.
Korda and Corpuz, who both won foursome matches together in Spain, became the first U.S. duo to win three foursome matches in a row.
“We just get along well,” Korda said. “When one of us didn’t hit the ball well, we really relied on each other and stayed calm out there.”
“I have such a great partner, she helps every time.”
9th-ranked Rose Zhang and US newcomer Lauren Coughlin never trailed, beating 10th-ranked Frenchwoman Celine Boutier and Swiss newcomer Albane Valenzuela 3&2.
“We made some crucial putts on the hole, which really helped the swing,” Zhang said.
Vu and US rookie Sarah Schmelzel also won 3&2 against Spaniard Carlota Ciganda and Swede Linn Grant.
“We just started off great,” Vu said after winning three of the first four holes and never trailing.
In Europe’s only foursome triumph, Sweden’s Maja Stark and Denmark’s Emily Pedersen won a two-man duel against Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho.
“We played great and felt like we played better golf,” Pedersen said. “We made a few mistakes.”
The Americans lead the eternal rivalry 10-7, with one tie, but the Europeans have won three straight titles in dramatic fashion, including as defending champions in a 14-14 tie in Spain last year.
– “Silent Killers” –
Zhang called Korda and Corpuz “silent killers” as they took command on the back nine holes.
Impressive wedges from Korda helped him make birdies for victory on the seventh and eighth holes to give the U.S. a 2-50 lead, but Hull sank a 12-foot birdie putt for victory on the tenth hole and a 4-foot putt for birdie on the par-3 11th hole to tie the match.
Henseleit and Corpuz both landed in the water with their approach shots on hole 14, but Corpuz sank a par putt to win the hole, Hull missed a short par putt and lost on hole 15, and Corpuz took the win with a 4-foot birdie putt on hole 16.
“It’s exciting to go out there and score the first point,” Corpuz said.
In the second match, Valenzuela missed a 10-foot birdie putt to lose the 12th hole, Coughlin birdied the 13th to put the U.S. two up ahead. The Americans won the 14th hole with par to take a three up lead before Zhang’s 8-foot par putt to tie the match on the 16th hole sealed the win.
Stark and Pedersen won four of the first five holes to take a four-stroke lead before Ewing and Kupcho fought back. Ewing made a five-foot birdie putt on 14 and a tap-in par on 15 to cut the U.S. lead to one hole but could not tie it.
Due to bus problems, thousands of spectators missed the start. The LPGA issued a statement “profoundly apologizing to all affected fans” and promised “significant changes to our transportation system” for this weekend with foursomes and fourball matches on Saturday and twelve final singles matches on Sunday.
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