The United States and Europe shared the opening foursomes session 2-2 after a wet and noisy start to the Solheim Cup at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands.
Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz earned the first American point with a record-setting victory, while Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin doubled the early advantage. Europe won the final two matches, with Maja Stark and Linn Grant defeating Rose Zhang and Jennifer Kupcho, followed by Esther Henseleit and Leona Maguire defeating Andrea Lee and Lindy Duncan.
The tie marked only the third time in 19 editions of the Solheim Cup that the teams had finished the opening morning level. The previous occasions came in Ireland in 2011 and Germany in 2015.
Korda and Corpuz set partnership record
Korda and Corpuz beat Charley Hull and Lottie Woad 4 and 3 in the opening match, becoming the first partnership to win five consecutive Solheim Cup matches together.
The Americans began the day with a 4-0-0 record as a pairing after collecting two points in Spain in 2023 and another two during the United States victory in Virginia the following year.
Woad gave Europe the early advantage by holing a 15-foot birdie putt at the first. Korda and Corpuz then took control, losing only one more hole before completing their victory on the 15th.
Korda improved her individual Solheim Cup record to 11-5-1. Corpuz said playing alongside the world No. 1 made the course considerably shorter for her.
“I always make the joke to Nelly, it’s so nice to be 30 yards ahead of where I would be on my own drive,” Corpuz said. “It just makes the hole so much easier.”
Lee and Coughlin supplied the second American point by beating Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Celine Boutier as the rain intensified. Coughlin moved to 4-0-1 in Solheim Cup play, giving her a .900 winning percentage, the best among players with at least five matches.
Europe recovers in final two matches
Stark and Grant began Europe’s response against Rose Zhang and Jennifer Kupcho. The Swedish pair moved 4 up through seven holes and closed out a 3&2 victory.
Henseleit and Maguire then ensured the session would finish level by defeating Andrea Lee and Lindy Duncan 2 up. Maguire’s record improved to 9-3-1, producing a .731 winning percentage. That is the best mark by a European with at least five Solheim Cup appearances, moving her ahead of Janice Moodie at .727 and Carin Koch at .719.
The United States entered Friday afternoon with two of the 14 points required to regain the crystal trophy, but Europe’s late recovery left the contest level after the first four matches.
Friday Foursomes 2-2 |
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| Match | USA | Europe | |||
| Player | Result | Player | |||
| 1 | Allisen Corpuz/Nelly Korda | < | 4&3 | Charley Hull/Lottie Woad | |
| 2 | Alison Lee/Lauren Coughlin | < | 3&2 | Nanna Koerstz Madsen/Celine Boutier | |
| 3 | Andrea Lee/Lindy Duncan | 2 Up | > | Esther Henseleit/Leona Maguire | |
| 4 | Rose Zhang/Jennifer Kupcho | 3&2 | > | Maja Stark/Linn Grant | |
Related: How Bernardus Is Preparing a Natural Championship Test for the Solheim Cup
Simon Bale
Simon Bale is the publisher of Golf Today. A low single-figure handicap golfer, he was previously a major shareholder and course reviewer for Top100GolfCourses.com for over a decade, starting in 2010. Through this role, he developed extensive knowledge of golf course design and architecture while playing more than 300 courses worldwide.