Euros storm to big Solheim lead

For the first time, the Americans failed to win a single alternate-shot match in two sessions at the Solheim Cup.

The best they could do Saturday was two halves, and Kelly Robbins had to come through in the clutch to get one of them.

With Sorenstam sharp and Suzann Pettersen undefeated, Europe built a 7{-4{ lead going into the final set of best-ball matches in the afternoon.

“Hopefully, we can win this afternoon as well, and put us in a good position for tomorrow,” Janice Moodie said.

Sorenstam came through with several key shots as she and Carin Koch recovered from their first loss in the Solheim Cup by beating Wendy Ward and Heather Bowie, 3 and 2.

Ward and Bowie are the only Americans who have lost both their matches.

Pettersen, a 22-year-old Norwegian who is becoming the European juggernaut, and Sophie Gustafson were 2 under par — a strong score for alternate shot — and easily handled Kelli Kuehne and Cristie Kerr, 3 and 1.

Elisabeth Esterl and Iben Tinning birdied the 17th as Europe scratched out a half-point against Michele Redman and Angela Stanford.

Robbins kept the deficit from getting any worse. She and Meg Mallon were all square with the tough Scottish duo of Catriona Matthew and Moodie with three holes to play.

Matthew pitched to 3 feet on the par-5 16th, a certain birdie. Robbins faced a tricky 10-footer up the side of the ridge, but it dropped to halve the hole.

Then, after Mallon hit her approach right of the green in thick rough, Robbins hit a flop shot that hopped once and hit the pin, stopping inches away. Moodie pitched to 5 feet, and Matthew sank that to keep the match even.

Both teams had long birdie putts, and both conceded 2-foot pars.

“Status quo,” said Sheehan, referring to the morning matches. “We actually played better, and everyone seemed to be communicating better, which is a good sign for American golf. Any half point we get is good for the total.”

Sheehan rested her most experienced players — Juli Inkster and Beth Daniel, who Friday night knocked off Sorenstam and Koch; and Rosie Jones.

Ward and Bowie had to face Europe’s top tandem, and the ploy seemed to work early in the match as the Americans played as though they had nothing to lose.

Koch, in particular, looked as though she had everything to lose. She missed an 18-inch par putt on the opening hole, and missed another par putt from 3{ feet on the third.

Sorenstam continued to bail her out, and no shot was more important than a wedge into 3 feet on the par-5 fifth. Koch holed that putt, and the Swedes embraced in relief.

From there, poor putting fell to the American side.

Neither team led for more than one hole, and Ward was poised to square the match at No. 10 when her 5-foot par putt rimmed 270 degrees around the cup and left her staring at the ball in disbelief.

Then, after Sorenstam made a 12-footer for par on No. 11, Ward jabbed at her 3-footer for par and missed it to the left. She snatched the ball out of the cup, threw it to the ground and rapped several more for practice.

By then, however, momentum was clearly on Sorenstam’s side. She and Koch birdied the next hole for a 3-up lead and were never in danger the rest of the way.

Robbins has played two alternate-shot matches, and both ended in a alve thanks to her clutch putting.

She and Mallon, a couple of Michigan natives, played together for the first time and trailed for seven of the holes, but never more by one shot. And when it got tight, Robbins seemed to have the answer.

The Americans are typically strongest in singles, and last year at Interlachen in Minnesota they rallied from a 2-point deficit by winning 8{ of the final 12 points.

Still, the afternoon was critical to keep within range of Europe.

“I’d bet my life we win the fourballs,” Mallon said. “Because we have to.”

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