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Last Updated: Sunday, 11 September 2005, 00:08 GMT 01:08 UK
Solheim Cup tied ahead of singles
Laura Davies
Europe and America will go into Sunday's decisive Solheim Cup singles locked at 8-8 after a day of drama at Crooked Stick, Indiana.

Both sides won one, lost one and halved two in the fourballs to enter the singles tied for the first time in the event's 15-year history.

American began the day trailing 3-5 but won the foursomes 3-1 to haul themselves back into contention.

Holders Europe need 14 points to keep the Cup and USA need 14� to regain it.

Europe, who won the biennial matchplay competition in Sweden two years ago, have never won on American soil since the Cup's inception in 1990.

Captain Catrin Nilsmark and world number one Annika Sorenstam believe their team-mates can make history.

"I'm very happy with the position," said Nilsmark.

"I think this is the best team Europe has ever had and we have a great opportunity to make history.

"This is what we hoped for, a chance to win. We've all won events and now we can win the Cup," added Sorenstam.

Europe's dream team of Laura Davies and Sorenstam were in commanding form with a 4&2 fourball win over Americans Pat Hurst and rookie Christina Kim.

The Anglo-Swedish alliance were playing together for the first time in the Solheim Cup despite a combined 16 Cup caps.

They raced to five up after 11 holes but took their time to win, eventually closing the match out on 16.

Paula Creamer
Creamer joined forces with Cristie Kerr to level the match at 8-8

"I thought we teamed up well. I'd love to do it again. We should be very proud of ourselves," said world number one Sorenstam.

In the first group, Dane Iben Tinning and England's Trish Johnson shared a half with American veterans Beth Daniel and Juli Inkster.

Sweden's Sophie Gustafson drained a birdie putt on the 18th to claim a half against Rosie Jones and Meg Mallon.

Gustafson, playing with Norway's Suzann Pettersen, answered the monster birdie putt of Jones to ensure Europe could not be headed going into the singles.

In the last group of the day, Cristie Kerr and 19-year-old rookie Paula Creamer levelled the entire match with a one-up win over Sweden's Carin Koch and Scot Catriona Matthew.

Earlier, Kim and Natalie Gulbis eased to a 4&2 foursomes win over French Solheim Cup rookies Ludivine Kreutz and Gwladys Nocera to land America's first blow of day two.

Home stars Creamer and Inkster also won 3&2 over Davies and Sweden's Maria Hjorth.

Gustafson and Koch won 5&3 to avoid an American clean sweep but Sorenstam and Matthew went down in the last group.




SEE ALSO
Europe team profiles
06 Sep 05 |  Golf
USA team profiles
06 Sep 05 |  Golf
Cup catfight
08 Sep 05 |  Golf


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