• Solheim Cup

Pettersen holds firm as Europe take narrow lead

Suzann Pettersen won both her matches on Friday © PA Photos

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Norway's Suzann Pettersen was the hero as she held her nerve to ensure Europe lead the United States by a single point after the opening day of the Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle.

Pettersen and partner Anna Nordqvist fended off an American fightback to keep Europe's hopes of winning the competition for the first time since 2003 alive, winning the final match of the day to give the hosts a 4½-3½ lead heading into the weekend.

The scoreboard was a sea of blue as the hosts took the lead in all four fourballs matches on Friday afternoon, only for the Americans to launch a comeback in the closing stages to reduce the deficit in Ireland.

When Swedish duo Sophie Gustafson and Caroline Hedwall claimed a commanding 5&4 victory over Vicky Hurst and Brittany Lincicome, Europe were firmly in control. Gustafson and Hedwall took the lead at the third hole, and never relinquished their advantage, building their lead after picking up shots at the tenth and eleventh to close in on victory.

With Europe ahead in the remaining three matches, it looked like captain Alison Nicholas' side would take a healthy lead into Saturday, but the Americans bounced back. Morgan Pressel birdied the 18th as she and Paula Creamer won the final two holes to snatch victory from Melissa Reid and Laura Davies to level proceedings at 3-3.

Catriona Matthew and Sandra Gal had been two up with three to play, but a late charge from Christina Kim and rookie Ryann O'Toole saw the Americans snatch another half a point.

Petterson and Nordqvist let a three-hole lead slip from their grasp as Cristie Kerr and Michelle Wie levelled with four holes remaining, but the European pair held their nerve to ensure the hosts take a lead into Saturday after winning their match 2-up.

It was a similar story in the morning session as Europe got off to a blistering start, only to be pegged back by the Americans, and once against it was Pettersen who had the final say. The Norwegian sank an eight-foot putt on the last hole to keep the scores level at the end of the morning foursomes. Pettersen and partner Gustafson lost the 17th hole to Juli Inkster and Brittany Lang, but after Inkster missed a ten-foot birdie putt, Pettersen held her nerve to win the final foursome to level the scores at 2-2.

It came after Creamer and Lincicome had battled back from two down with four holes to play to beat Karen Stupples and Reid to give the USA a 2-1 lead after Matthew and Azahara Munoz had beaten Stacy Lewis and Angela Stanford 3&2 to cancel out Wie and Kerr's opening 2&1 win over Maria Hjorth and Nordqvist.

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