Staff Reporter.
Second-ranked Lilia Vu captured the deciding half-point and the United States defeated Europe 15.5-12.5 on Sunday to win the Solheim Cup for the first time since 2017.
The 26-year-old American was two down to Swiss rookie Albane Valenzuela with two holes remaining but birdied to win 17 then dropped her approach inches from the hole at 18 and tapped in for birdie to win the hole and finished tied.
That gave the Americans 14.5 points to clinch an overall victory at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club after two losses and a draw against Europe in the past three showdowns.
“It could have gone either way, it’s crazy how it unfolded,” said US captain Stacy Lewis.
“It’s amazing how often these things come down to half a point here and there and we’re happy to be on the right side this time.”
Europe skipper Suzann Pettersen added: “We gave them a run for their money. We had a chance, there were possibilities and several times we thought we could get it done.
“But I’m happy for Stacy on home turf.”
Europe began the day dreaming of a ‘Manassas miracle’ with Pettersen saying she had no option but to push her “form” players out in the early singles matches and English pair Charley Hull and Georgia Hall led from the front.
And Hull, out first against world number one Nelly Korda, raced to a superb 6&4 win, while Hall delivered a second European point out in match three with a similarly dominant 4&3 victory over Alison Lee.
But, in between those results, Megan Khang demolished Emily Pedersen 6&5 to put the US 11-8 ahead and within three and a half points of success.
And two of those red points quickly followed with Allisen Corpuz beating Anna Nordqvist 4&3, while former world amateur number one Zhang crushed Carlota Ciganda 6&4 to be the only player to score four points this week.
But then the nerves crept in with European blue flooding the bottom half of the scoreboard and setting up a dramatic climax on the banks of Lake Manassas.
Germany’s Olympic silver medallist Esther Henseleit won four straight holes from the eighth to turn around her match from two down to two up against Andrea Lee, while Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom and Ireland’s Leona Maguire were also ahead.
The European momentum continued with Celine Boutier winning three holes on the trot from the 12th to move level with Lexi Thompson and Linn Grant also came from three down against Jennifer Kupcho to be level after nine.
But as so often happens in these events, the tide turned.
US debutant Sarah Schmelzel, who had two chip-ins and an eagle in her round, drew level with Sagstrom on the long 14th.
Up ahead, Andrea Lee fought back to take Henseleit down the 18th. The German then fell agonisingly short with a 20-foot putt to win a point as the US scrambled a crucial half.
Home favourite Lauren Coughlin, who had come from three down after 10 against Maja Stark, had a putt to win the trophy, but her 15-footer came up shy and the Swede nervelessly holed from 10 feet to keep Europe alive, albeit at 14-11 down.