Europe leveled the Solheim Cup at 6-6 Saturday as it seized 2-1/2 points in the moring four-ball matches against the United States in the biennial women's matchplay golf competition. Solheim Cup newcomer Michelle Wie and Christina Kim were the lone bright spot for the hosts on Saturday morning, thrashing Sweden's Helen Alfredsson and Spain's Tania Elosegui 5 and 4 in the first match. Europe's Catriona Matthew and Diana Luna came back from 2-down with two to go to halve their match against Angela Stanford and Brittany Lang. Europe's Suzann Pettersen and Anna Nordqvist played great down the stretch and beat Cristie Kerr and Nicole Castrale, 2-up. In the anchor match, the European pair of Maria Hjorth and Gwladys Nocera earned a tough 1-up win over Brittany Lincicome and Kristy McPherson. Play continued Saturday afternoon with four foursomes matches and concluded on Sunday with 12 singles. The defending champion United States needs 14 points to retain the trophy while Europe, which has never lifted the title on US soil, need 14-1/2 to win it. Alfredsson and Elosegui actually led Wie and Kim 2-up through two, but the Americans squared it and took the lead at the par-four eighth. Wie and Kim built momentum with wins at nine and 10 and moved 4-up when Wie sank a four-footer for birdie at 11. Three holes later, when Alfredsson and Elosegui both missed chances to halve the hole, the US won the full point. “I'm very proud. Both of us did extremely well today,” Wie said. “It was a good game. We had a lot of fun and played some good golf.” Stanford and Lang were 2-up heading to 17 where British Open champion Matthew chipped in for a birdie. Luna clinched the half-point with a courageous 20-footer for birdie at the final hole. In the third match, Kerr holed out from the fairway for an eagle at 12 that squared the match. Pettersen gave Europe a lead with a birdie at 15. Nordqvist, the LPGA Champion, then made a 20-footer to win 16 with a birdie. She sank a 20-footer for birdie and the win at 16 to put Europe 2-up with two to play. Castrale drained a 20-footer at 17 to let the US go to the last 1-down, but Nordqvist drained another tough one at 18 to give Europe the 2-up win. “It was fun,” Nordqvist said. “Obviously making the putt on the last was great.” Nocera and Hjorth were in control of their match with a 3-up lead with six to play. McPherson and Lincicome won three holes in a row, however, to even things up with three to play. Hjorth landed her tee shot at 16 inches from the pin and the US conceded a birdie that they couldn't match to give Europe a 1-up lead they wouldn't relinquish. Hedblom two shots clear In the Netherlands, Sweden's Peter Hedblom powered his way to a six-under-par 64 Saturday to take a two-shot lead after the Dutch Open third round. A fiery start, when he picked up three strokes in the first two holes, shook off joint overnight leader Darren Clarke and left the field trying to play catch-up as the Scandinavian came within one shot of equalling the Kennemer course record. Hedblom finished on 14-under-par 196, two ahead of Irishman Peter Lawrie (65). Clarke (67) was third on 198, one ahead of fellow Britons Jamie Donaldson, Sam Little and Kenneth Ferrie and Terry Pilkadaris of Australia. A converted 18-foot eagle attempt at the second hole showed Hedblom's putting improvements were taking shape. His putting has been his Achilles heel in a dismal season highlighted by 11 missed cuts, including three in a row leading up to this event. Lawrie, looking for a second tour title, was able to rid himself of the frustration he felt after carding a double-bogey six at the final hole of his second round. Like Hedblom, the Irishman made a quick start with three birdies in the opening four holes. Holder Clarke is trying to become the first player since 1978 to retain the Dutch Open. Riley, Moore share lead Chris Riley shot a season-best 63 to move to 11-under 129 and claim a share of the lead with Ryan Moore during an incomplete second round at the Wyndham Championship Friday. Moore was at 11-under through 17 holes and Jeff Maggert was 10-under with one hole remaining when play was halted because of darkness with 28 players still on the course. Sergio Garcia had two eagles during his 64 and joined 18-hole leader Bill Haas (69) and Chez Reavie (67) at 131. Kevin Stadler (63), Marc Leishman (65), Boo Weekley (67), Johnson Wagner (66) and Fred Couples (66) were at 132.
