GAINESVILLE, Va. — Lilia did Vu clinched the deciding half-point at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club to win the U.S. its first Solheim Cup since 2017. Europe had claimed the last three cup matches, and with an infusion of young talent they came in confident to extend their streak on foreign soil. History was not on their side, as no squad has ever captured more than three consecutive Cups.
The theme for Team USA during the week was unfinished business. The 2022 matches in Spain finished in a 14-14 tie, which allowed Team Europe to retain the cup.
The U.S. Team took control of the opening foursomes matches, winning three points early on. The red, white and blue took three more points in the afternoon four-ball session, leaving the Euros behind 6-2 at the end of day one. Dat two saw the Euros fight back. The foursomes session ended in a 2-2 tie, highlighted by a tough victory from Esther Henseleit and Charley Hull, who prevailed over Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho, winning the match 1 up on the last.
USA led 10-6 heading into Sunday singles, but as we’ve seen before in these team matchplay events – it could go either way. Team USA presented World No. 1 Nelly Korda to bat leadoff, but she came up against Europe’s most fiery competitor – Charley Hull. Hull set the tone early, drubbing Korda 6 & 4 to earn the Europeans the first point of the day, and all of the momentum. Megan Khang then answered back with an equally impressive 6 & 5 domination over Emily Pedersen, to regain their four point advantage. Georgia Hall got on the board for the Europeans when she routed Alison Lee 4 & 3.
Rose Zhang continued the lopsided tally, when she crushed Carlota Ciganda 6 & 4 to inch Team USA with their 12th point. In doing so, Zhang joined Khang (and later Allisen Corpuz) as Americans to go undefeated at RTJ Golf Club. Corpuz defeated Anna Nordqvist 4 & 3. Andrea Lee’s halved match with Esther Henseleit, got Team USA to 13.5, just a point from winning the matches. However, Europe wasn’t finished . . .
Celine Boutier stormed back from 3-down making birdie at the last to defeat Lexi Thompson 1 up on the 18th. Leona Maguire snatched another point with a 4 & 3 victory over Ally Ewing, bringing the ledger to 13.5-10.5.
Lauren Coughlin had a putt to win the Cup on the 18th vs Maja Stark, but when it missed, another half-point guaranteed at least a tie, not quite what Stacy Lewis and her squad had set out to accomplish. So, with three games left on the golf course, another halved match was needed from either Vu, Schmelzel or Jennifer Kupcho. Playing the 18th, Vu was the one in position to finish the mission and play hero . . . but she was one down to Albane Valenzuela, who hit her approach to the front of the 18th green, leaving a lengthy birdie putt.
The moment was not too big for 2 time major champion, she stepped up and nailed her approach to just about gimme range (two feet), and after Valenzuela left her birdie attempt short, Vu calmly drilled the birdie in the hole and for the Solheim Cup victory.
“This week was kind of hard for me,” said Vu. “I felt like I wasn’t physically 100 percent, and I almost felt guilty taking that spot from someone else and felt like I was trying to find something out here on the golf course. Luckily, I have the best team around me and was able to find my game today. I’m pretty grateful to even be playing golf.”
“From the moment this team was together, they were together,” said Lewis. “I’m just so proud of them. I’m proud that they get this moment where they get to celebrate tonight and win this Cup.”
Match Scores: https://www.lpga.com/tournaments/the-solheim-cup/leaderboard
