Sally Watson from South Queensferry won the top singles but Europe crashed to a seven-point overall defeat by United States in the fifth Ping Junior Solheim Cup girls' amateur golf match at Aurora Country Club, Illinois. The Americans had established a 7 ½-4 ½ lead over the first-day foursomes (3 ½-2 ½) and four-balls (4-2) and took the final set of 12 singles 8-4 for a comprehensive 15 ½-8 ½ victory. And so the pattern of the matches was continued – the host team has always won so far. The United States won 17-7 in 2002 and 16-8 in 2005 on the previous occasions when they have had home advantage. Europe won 12 ½-11 ½ in 2003 and 14-10 in 2007 when both matches were played in Sweden. Manchester's Kelly Tidy, who withdrew from last week's British girls championship – she had been beaten in the 2007 and 2008 finals – at West Lancashire Golf Club so that she would be fresh for the Ping Junior Solheim Cup match, had her decision vindicated. Kelly was Europe's most successful player with three wins out of three. Curtis Cup and Vagliano Trophy player Sally Watson, 18, beat Jane Rah 4 and 3 in the lead-off singles tie. The Scot, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, who will be enrolling at Stanford University, California later this month, finished with 1 ½pt out of a possible three, having halved and also lost her first-day ties. The 14-year-old Maguire twins from Co Cavan, Ireland had mixed foursomes. They usually play together in foursomes but Europe skipper Carin Koch split them up. Lisa won twice on Day 1 but lost her singles by 2 and 1 to Kristen Park. Leona halved and lost her first-day ties and lost by 5 and 4 o Ani Gulligian in the singles to finish with half-a-point to her credit. "The score doesn't show how close it was," said US team captain Nancy Lopez in a generous and sporting comment. "I'm so proud of my team for never giving up. They played with heart and are a fantastic team." American team members going undefeated through all three rounds were Sarah Brown, Tiffany Lua, Alexis Thompson, and Kristen Park. "The way my team has carried themselves and performed under pressure has really been impressive to me," European captain Carin Koch said. "I'm so proud of the girls and the way they stuck in there and played tough." Details:
UNITED STATES 15 ½, EUROPE 8 ½
First day: US 7 ½, Europe 4 ½
Second day: US 8, Europe 4
SINGLES
(US names first)
Jane Rah lost to Sally Watson (Scotland) 4 and 3.
Sarah Brown bt Klara Spilkova (Czech Rep) 2 and 1.
Jessica Korda bt Rosanna Crepiat (France) 3 and 2.
Ani Gulligian bt Leona Maguire (Ireland) 5 and 4.
Stephanie Kim lost to Sherlyn Popelka (Switzerland) 4 and 3.
Tiffany Lua bt Anna Arrese (Spain) 4 and 3.
Alison Lee lost to Ana Fernandez de Mesa (Spain) 1 hole.
Alexis Thompson bt Tonje Daffinrud (Norway) 1 hole.
Kristina Wong bt Johanna Tillstrom (Sweden) 3 and 1.
Jennifer Johnson bt Sophia Popov (Germany) 2 and 1.
Alexandra Stewart lost to Kelly Tidy (England) 5 and 4.
Kristen Park bt Lisa Maguire (Ireland) 2 and 1.
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