Nelly Korda, Allisen Corpuz, Rose Zhang and Lauren Coughlin powered the United States team to an early edge over Team Europe in the first session of the Solheim Cup on Friday in Gainesville, Va.
The Americans lead the Europeans 3-1 after Friday morning’s foursome (alternate-shot) matches at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, thanks in part to Korda’s tight approach shots and her teammates’ clutch putting.
The competition continues Friday afternoon with four four-ball (best-ball) matches. The U.S. is aiming to end a three-event Solheim Cup drought and needs 14 1/2 points by Sunday to wrest the cup back from Europe.
World No. 1 Korda and Corpuz defeated Esther Henseleit of Germany and Charley Hull of England 3 and 2, and Zhang and Coughlin beat France’s Celine Boutier and Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela by the same score.
Emily Kristine Pedersen of Denmark and Maja Stark of Sweden raced out to a 4-up lead through five holes against Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho, but the Americans chipped away at that margin from the ninth hole on. They were 1 down heading to the 18th, but Pedersen hit a perfect approach shot to set up a short birdie, and Europe won the match 2 up.
In the final match of the morning, World No. 2 Lilia Vu and Sarah Schmelzel defeated Sweden’s Linn Grant and Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, also 3 and 2.
Korda and Corpuz’s match hinged on the par-5 14th hole, when both teams hit the water on their second shot. After the ensuing drops, Korda placed the Americans slightly closer than the Europeans, and Corpuz sank the par putt after Europe’s putt missed.
“I just think any time you make a longer putt, it kind of gives you a little more momentum,” Corpuz said. “It felt like we were playing really well all day long; just burned a lot of edges in the first few holes and was able to see them going in.”
They won the next two holes and wrapped up the match at the par-3 16th, where Korda’s tee shot settled several feet from the cup and Corpuz converted the birdie.
“I have such a great partner. She comes up clutch every single time,” Korda said.
Zhang and Coughlin never trailed in their match, though it took until No. 12 for them to break away from Boutier and Valenzuela. Coughlin’s birdie putt at that hole pushed the Americans 1 up and fired up the locals rooting in particular for the Virginia native. Zhang made an uphill par putt at No. 16 to finish the job.
The Friday afternoon four-ball pairings are as follows:
–Nelly Korda/Megan Khang (U.S.) vs. Georgia Hall/Leona Maguire (Europe)
–Alison Lee/Lexi Thompson (U.S.) vs. Anna Nordqvist/Madelene Sagstrom (Europe)
–Lauren Coughlin/Sarah Schmelzel (U.S.) vs. Emily Kristine Pedersen/Maja Stark (Europe)
–Andrea Lee/Rose Zhang (U.S.) vs. Linn Grant/Charley Hull (Europe)
