2003 Solheim Cup
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The 8th Solheim Cup Match was held between September 12 and September 14, 2003 at Barsebäck Golf & Country Club, Loddekopinge, Skåne, Sweden, the first time the contest had been held outside the US or UK. When Rosie Jones conceded a birdie putt to Catriona Matthew giving her a 3&1 win, Europe got the 14½ points they required to win the Solheim Cup for the third time. With the match over as a contest, amid some controversy, four of the five remaining matches were conceded. This made the final score 17½ to 10½.
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[edit] Teams
The European team consisted of seven automatic qualifiers and five wild card picks from Captain Catrin Nilsmark.[1] [2] The US team consisted of 10 automatic qualifiers and two picks from Captain Patty Sheehan.[3] [4]
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[edit] Format
The match format was unchanged from 2002. A total of 28 points were available, divided among four periods of team play, followed by one period of singles play. The first period, on Friday morning, was four rounds of foursomes. This was followed in the afternoon by four rounds of four-balls. This schedule was repeated on the Saturday morning and afternoon. The four periods on Friday and Saturday accounted for 16 points. During these team periods, the players played in teams of two. All players had to play in at least one session of the first two days . The final 12 points were decided in a round of singles matchplay, in which all 24 players (12 from each team) took part.
[edit] Day One
[edit] Foursomes
The European team started Day 1 strongly, dominating the foursomes matches. The first point was won by the Scottish pairing of Catriona Matthew and Janice Moodie. A birdie putt on 15 sealed the 5&3 win for the Scottish pairing who had, somewhat controversially, not been picked for the 2002 team.[5] The second European point was also gained on the 15th green. Annika Sörenstam and Suzann Pettersen had gone 4 up after 11 and closed out the match 4&3.
The third victorious European team was Sophie Gustafson and Solheim Cup rookie, Elisabeth Esterl who beat the highly experienced American combination of Meg Mallon and Rosie Jones 3&2 winning the 16th. The US team avoided a morning session whitewash by gaining a half point in the top match. Carin Koch and Laura Davies were one up with five to play but Beth Daniel and Kelly Robbins made a birdie at the 15th and the match was halved.[6]
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Results |  |
|---|---|---|
| Carin Koch/Laura Davies | Match halved | Beth Daniel/Kelly Robbins |
| Janice Moodie/Catriona Matthew |  5 and 3 |
Juli Inkster/Wendy Ward |
| Annika Sörenstam/Suzann Pettersen | 4 and 3 |
Laura Diaz/Heather Bowie |
| Sophie Gustafson/Elisabeth Esterl | 3 and 2 |
Meg Mallon/Rosie Jones |
| 3 ½ | Foursomes | 0 ½ |
| 3 ½ | Overall | 0 ½ |
[edit] Four-ball
The afternoon fourball matches saw a fightback from the US team. Only Suzann Pettersen and the four months pregnant Patricia Meunier-Lebouc won a point for the Europeans beating US rookie Angela Stanford and veteran Meg Mallon. Juli Inkster and Beth Daniel, at 48 the oldest ever Solheim Cup player,[7] came back from 1 down with three to play to win 1up on the 18th against Annika Sörenstam and Carin Koch thus ending Koch's unbeaten record. Kelli Kuehne and Cristie Kerr won the top match against Laura Davies and Catriona Matthew, whilst Michele Redman and Rosie Jones came from behind with Redman chipping in from off the green on 14.[8]
|
Results | |
|---|---|---|
| Laura Davies/Catriona Matthew |  2 and 1 |
Kelli Kuehne/Cristie Kerr |
| Annika Sörenstam/Carin Koch | 1 up |
Juli Inkster/Beth Daniel |
| Suzann Pettersen/Patricia Meunier-Lebouc | 3 and 2 |
Angela Stanford/Meg Mallon |
| Sophie Gustafson/Iben Tinning | 1 up |
Michele Redman/Rosie Jones |
| 1 | Fourballs | 3 |
| 4 ½ | Overall | 3 ½ |
[edit] Day Two
[edit] Foursomes
Europe won three out of a potential four points in the morning foursomes to extend their lead. The big hitting Scandinavian pairing of Suzann Pettersen and Sophie Gustafson kicked things off with a 3&1 win over previous day winners Cristie Kerr and Kelli Kuehne. The second match saw two European rookies, Iben Tinning and Elisabeth Esterl, the first German to play in the Solheim Cup,[9] taking on US rookie Angela Stanford and veteran Michele Redman. This match was always close and Tinning had to hole a testy 4 footer on 18 to gain a half.
Annika Sörenstam and Carin Koch returned to winning ways beating Wendy Ward and Heather Bowie. They won three holes around the turn and parred the 16th hole to win 3&2.[10] The bottom match was also very close and ended in a half when neither team could make a birdie.
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Results | |
|---|---|---|
| Sophie Gustafson/Suzann Pettersen | 3 and 1 |
Kelli Kuehne/Cristie Kerr |
| Elisabeth Esterl/Iben Tinning | Match halved | Angela Stanford/Michele Redman |
| Annika Sörenstam/Carin Koch | 3 and 2 |
Wendy Ward/Heather Bowie |
| Janice Moodie/Catriona Matthew | Match halved | Meg Mallon/Kelly Robbins |
| 3 | Foursomes | 1 |
| 7 ½ | Overall | 4 ½ |
[edit] Four-ball
The afternoon fourballs started encouragingly for the US team. The European rookie pairing, playing their first match of the week, Ana-Belen Sanchez and Mhairi McKay were well beaten 5&4 by the veteran US combination of Beth Daniel and Juli Inkster. The US won match two as well, Kelli Kuehne and Cristie Kerr teaming up once more to beat Laura Davies and Sophie Gustafson 2&1 winning both the 16th and 17th holes.[11] The Scottish pair of Janice Moodie and Catriona Matthew got a point back for Europe. They were 1 up after 11, then won the 12th, 14th and 15th to win 4&3.
The final match of the day had a spectacular finish. Laura Diaz and Kelly Robbins had a tap in birdie on the 17th hole only for Annika Sörenstam to halve the hole with a 20 foot putt from the fringe of the green.[12] On 18, Diaz had a six foot putt for birdie but missed. Pettersen's birdie putt from ten feet did not miss and Europe had a three point lead going into the final day singles.
|
Results | |
|---|---|---|
| Ana-Belen Sanchez/Mhairi McKay | 5 and 4 |
Beth Daniel/Juli Inkster |
| Sophie Gustafson/Laura Davies | 2 and 1 |
Kelli Kuehne/Cristie Kerr |
| Janice Moodie/Catriona Matthew | 4 and 3 |
Wendy Ward/Rosie Jones |
| Annika Sörenstam/Suzann Pettersen | 1 up |
Kelly Robbins/Laura Diaz |
| 2 | Fourballs | 2 |
| 9 ½ | Overall | 6 ½ |
[edit] Day Three
[edit] Singles
Janice Moodie led off for Europe taking a four hole lead after seven holes, eventually beating Kelli Kuehne 3&2. Juli Inkster got the first point of the day for the US team comprehensively beating Carin Koch. Sophie Gustafson beat Heather Bowie 5&4 to leave Bowie pointless for the week.
European rookie Iben Tinning was 3 up at the turn on Wendy Ward and won when Ward mised a par putt on 17. Ana-Belen Sanchez fought hard all day but eventually lost to Michele Redman. Annika Sörenstam was never behind and always in control in her win over Angela Stanford and minutes after she won, Catriona Matthew gained the winning point and the remaining matches were conceded with the winner being whoever was in the lead. The match between Laura Davies and Meg Mallon was level at the time and Davies won because Mallon offered to concede first.[13] [14]
|
Results | |
|---|---|---|
| Janice Moodie | 3 and 2 |
Kelli Kuehne |
| Carin Koch | 5 and 4 |
Juli Inkster |
| Sophie Gustafson | 5 and 4 |
Heather Bowie |
| Iben Tinning | 2 and 1 |
Wendy Ward |
| Ana-Belen Sanchez | 3 and 1 |
Michele Redman |
| Catriona Matthew | 3 and 1 |
Rosie Jones |
| Annika Sörenstam | 3 and 2 |
Angela Stanford |
| Suzann Pettersen | 1 up |
Cristie Kerr |
| Laura Davies | 1 up |
Meg Mallon |
| Elisabeth Esterl | 5 and 4 |
Laura Diaz |
| Mhairi McKay | 1 up |
Beth Daniel |
| Patricia Meunier-Lebouc | 1 up |
Kelly Robbins |
| 8 | Singles | 4 |
| 17 ½ | Overall | 10 ½ |
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes and References
- ^ European Solheim Cup Team Finalized. The Golf Channel (2003-08-25). Retrieved on 2007-03-18.
- ^ Martin Park (2003-08-25). European Team announced. LET (Ladies European Tour). Retrieved on 2007-03-18.
- ^ Sheehan announces US Team. LET (Ladies European Tour) (2003-08-25). Retrieved on 2007-03-18.
- ^ Sheehan Announces Selections. The Golf Channel (2003-08-25). Retrieved on 2007-03-18.
- ^ Europe dominates morning foursomes. LET (2003-09-12). Retrieved on 2007-03-18.
- ^ Europeans Take Commanding Lead. The Golf Channel (2003-09-12). Retrieved on 2007-03-18.
- ^ Favourites Europe snatch one point lead. LET (2003-09-12). Retrieved on 2007-03-18.
- ^ Americans Dig Hole Then Storm Back. The Golf Channel (2003-09-12). Retrieved on 2007-03-18.
- ^ Pettersen and Gustafson rack up European points. LET (2003-09-13). Retrieved on 2007-03-18.
- ^ Europe Dominates Foursomes Again. The Golf Channel (2003-09-13). Retrieved on 2007-03-18.
- ^ Europe in Control Heading to Singles. The Golf Channel (2003-09-13). Retrieved on 2007-03-18.
- ^ Sensational finish for Sorenstam and Pettersen. LET (2003-09-13). Retrieved on 2007-03-18.
- ^ Europe wins back The Solheim Cup!. LET (2003-09-14). Retrieved on 2007-03-18.
- ^ Europe Easily Defeats U.S. for Solheim Cup. The Golf Channel (2003-09-14). Retrieved on 2007-03-18.
[edit] External links
2002 Solheim Cup 15½  12½ |
2003 Solheim Cup 17½ 10½ |
2005 Solheim Cup 15½ 12½ |
