America regain the Solheim Cup

EUROPE’S hopes of a first win away from home disappeared as America regained the Solheim Cup at Crooked Stick in Carmel, Indiana.

The teams were level at 8-8 going into the final day singles, and the match ended as a contest when Meg Mallon went dormie two up on England’s Karen Stupples on her way to a 3&1 win. The half-point took the US to a winning 141/2 points total.

America’s 19-year-old Paula Creamer, the youngest player in Solheim Cup history, set the tone by claiming the first point with a brilliant 7&5 win over former world number one Laura Davies.

The home team rookie, who won three and a half points from her matches overall, was six up after reaching the turn in 30 and was seven under for the 13 holes.

After Creamer put the first red point on the board, Laura Diaz, Juli Inkster, Christina Kim, Pat Hurst all added more points for America before Annika Sorenstam stemmed the tide with a & win over Beth Daniel.

But Natalie Gulbis claimed the sixth point for the US with a 3&1 win over Maria Hjorth, leaving Mallon, playing in her eighth Solheim Cup, to clinch the victory.