Leona Maguire, of Team Europe, left, and her twin sister Lisa, right, and other members of the Team Europe contingent pose for a photograph with Solheim Cup trophy. Scott W. Grau
ode to joy
Leona Maguire steals the show as Europe win Solheim Cup on US soil
Finnish rookie Matilda Castren retained the cup for Europe before Emily Pedersen sealed victory.
IRELAND’S LEONA MAGUIRE played a starring role as Europe claimed just their second Solheim Cup victory on US soil at Inverness Club in Toledo.
Maguire’s singles victory over Jennifer Kupcho gave her four and a half points from five matches on her debut in the biennial contest – a record for a rookie on either side – and provided the ideal springboard for a hard-fought success.
Victories for Madelene Sagstrom and Celine Boutier edged Catriona Matthew’s side closer to their target of 14 points to retain the trophy, before wins for world number one Nelly Korda, Brittany Altomare and Megan Khang kept the contest alive.
It fell to Finnish rookie Matilda Castren to make a nerveless par save on the 18th to beat Lizette Salas and make sure the trophy would return across the Atlantic, with Emily Pedersen then guaranteeing half a point from the bottom match to ensure outright victory.
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Sagstrom put another point on the board for Europe with a 3 and 2 victory over Ally Ewing, a highly welcome win following a controversial incident involving the pair on Saturday.
Matilda Castren celebrates after clinching the point that retained the cup for Europe. David Dermer
David Dermer
Ewing was partnering Korda when the latter’s eagle putt on the 13th hole narrowly failed to drop, with Sagstrom quickly picking up the ball and conceding the birdie.
The Swede was deemed to have acted too quickly as the ball was adjudged to be hanging over the hole, with Korda credited with the eagle and the American pair going on to win the match on the 18th.
“It’s been a great week,” Sagstrom said. “The team has obviously done amazing. I haven’t really contributed until today.
“I was saying on the range this morning, hold on a second, I need to be myself. I need to be myself out there. I can’t play somebody else’s game, I can’t be somebody else’s character. I need to be myself, and I really found that today. I grinded hard.
“Ally put up a really good fight, so we had a really solid game going, and I’m really proud of myself.”
Maguire drinks from the trophy. Carlos Osorio
Carlos Osorio
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Leona Maguire steals the show as Europe win Solheim Cup on US soil
USA 13-15 Europe
IRELAND’S LEONA MAGUIRE played a starring role as Europe claimed just their second Solheim Cup victory on US soil at Inverness Club in Toledo.
Maguire’s singles victory over Jennifer Kupcho gave her four and a half points from five matches on her debut in the biennial contest – a record for a rookie on either side – and provided the ideal springboard for a hard-fought success.
Victories for Madelene Sagstrom and Celine Boutier edged Catriona Matthew’s side closer to their target of 14 points to retain the trophy, before wins for world number one Nelly Korda, Brittany Altomare and Megan Khang kept the contest alive.
It fell to Finnish rookie Matilda Castren to make a nerveless par save on the 18th to beat Lizette Salas and make sure the trophy would return across the Atlantic, with Emily Pedersen then guaranteeing half a point from the bottom match to ensure outright victory.
Sagstrom put another point on the board for Europe with a 3 and 2 victory over Ally Ewing, a highly welcome win following a controversial incident involving the pair on Saturday.
Ewing was partnering Korda when the latter’s eagle putt on the 13th hole narrowly failed to drop, with Sagstrom quickly picking up the ball and conceding the birdie.
The Swede was deemed to have acted too quickly as the ball was adjudged to be hanging over the hole, with Korda credited with the eagle and the American pair going on to win the match on the 18th.
“It’s been a great week,” Sagstrom said. “The team has obviously done amazing. I haven’t really contributed until today.
“I was saying on the range this morning, hold on a second, I need to be myself. I need to be myself out there. I can’t play somebody else’s game, I can’t be somebody else’s character. I need to be myself, and I really found that today. I grinded hard.
“Ally put up a really good fight, so we had a really solid game going, and I’m really proud of myself.”
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Catriona Matthew Emily Pedersen Golf leona maguire Matilda Castren ode to joy Solheim Cup