Koch takes confidence from partnership with Sorenstam

Europe went into yesterday's final day of the Solheim Cup with their noses in front thanks to a remarkable second day. The Europe captain, Dale Reid, admitted that she found it "totally unbelievable" that her side completed a clean sweep of the second day fourballs to move into a 9-7 lead in the Solheim Cup at Interlachen Country Club in Minnesota.

Carin Koch and Annika Sorenstam were the only European winners in the four morning alternate-shot matches. But, after an amazing afternoon, the defending champions needed just five wins in the 12 singles matches Sunday to bring their total to 14 points and keep the cup.

"In match play, you can take more chances, go for everything," said Koch. "Being aggressive is good for my game."

Playing with Sorenstam, the world No 1, also helps. "Most times, we have two chances for birdie, so I can roll it up there a little firmer," Koch added.

That theory worked on the par-three 14th hole, where Sorenstam knocked her tee shot to three feet. But Koch never gave her a chance to tap it in. She made a 15-foot putt of her own for birdie to put Europe four-up with four to play against Beth Daniel and Wendy Ward.

Koch's putt was the sixth hole out of seven the Europeans had won, and after the 15the they had achieved a decisive 4 and 3 victory after falling two holes behind early on.

Koch and Sorenstam were not alone in making great shots on Saturday afternoon. Laura Davies hit a driving iron 210 yards on the par-five 10th to set up a birdie and bring the Europeans to all-square after falling behind by two holes earlier. On the 12th, her teammate, Sophie Gustafson, made a 12-footer from the fringe to put Europe 2-up. Europe held on to win that match, 1-up over Kelly Robbins and Emilee Klein.

The Spaniard Raquel Carriedo made a 20-foot putt on the 12th to give herself and Karine Icher a two-hole advantage over Rosie Jones and Kerr. The Americans forced that one to the 18th, too, but Europe held on for a one-hole victory.

Moments earlier, Maria Hjorth made birdie from the fringe on the 12th to put herself and Iben Tinning 1-up on Pat Hurst and Kelli Kuehne, and that was the final margin in that match, as well.

"It is the first time there has ever been a 4-0 in fourballs and now I'm just trying to calm my team down," said Reid, who led Europe to victory at Loch Lomond two years ago. "There is still a big job to do."

America had won the morning foursomes 3-1, but the visitors' fightback was inspired by the forceful golf of Sorenstam and Koch.

SOLHEIM CUP (Edina, Minnesota): Fourballs: B Daniel and W Ward lost to A Sorenstam and C Koch, 4 and 3; P Hurst and K Kuehne lost to M Hjorth and I Tinning one up; K Robbins and E Klein lost to L Davies and S Gustafson one up; R Jones and C Kerr lost to K Icher and R Carriedo one up. Score: US 0 Europe 4. Foursomes: Kerr and M Redman lost to Sorenstam and Koch 4 and 3; Klein and Ward beat Tinning and Mh McKay 3 and 2; M Mallon and Juli Inkster bt Davies and P Marti 2 and 1; L Diaz and Robbins bt Alfredsson and S Pettersen 3 and 1. Score: US 3 Europe 1. Overall score: USA 7 Europe 9.