Pettersen shines as Europe grabs early Solheim lead

PARKER, United States / Colorado: Norway's Suzann Pettersen, who plays mainly on the US-based LPGA Tour, helped lead Europe to a 5-3 lead Friday after day one at the 2013 Solheim Cup.

Pettersen, and playing partner Beatriz Recari, won their morning foursomes match 2 and 1 over Americans Brittany Lang and Angela Stanford at the Colorado Golf Club.

Pettersen then turned around and teamed with Carlota Ciganda in the afternoon fourballs to beat the USA's Stacy Lewis and Lexi Thompson 1 and 0.

Pettersen carried her team in the afternoon session, but Ciganda was the key on one hole.

On the 15th, Ciganda was in the hazard to the right of the green. After almost 30 minutes to decide where she could drop her ball, Ciganda scrambled for a par. Lewis and Thompson failed to make their birdie attempts, to give the Europeans a halve on that hole.

Pettersen birdied the 16th to go one-up, then made a short par putt at the last to give herself and Ciganda the win.

Lang and Brittany Lincicome bested Anna Nordqvist and Giulia Sergas, 4 and 3. That was the third match out, but the first one to be completed in the afternoon fourballs.

Caroline Hedwall and Caroline Masson led wire-to-wire as they defeated Angela Stanford and Gerina Piller 2 and 1 in the second match out.

The USA won the final match to climb within two points. Cristie Kerr and captain's pick Michelle Wie held on for a 2 and 1 victory over Catriona Matthew and Charley Hull, who at just 17 became the youngest competitor in event history. (AFP)