Kupcho's closing birdies pull USA level with Europe at Solheim Cup

Jennifer Kupcho birdied the final two holes to help bring the United States level with Europe at 8-8 after the second day of the Solheim Cup at Bernardus Golf on Saturday. According to The Guardian's report, her late turnaround alongside Lindy Duncan denied Europe an overnight advantage and left the competition tied with 12 singles matches remaining.

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Carlota Ciganda and Céline Boutier had been two holes ahead with four to play in the closing fourball match. Duncan cut that margin with a three at the 15th before Kupcho made a birdie from 90 feet, off the green, at the 17th. The American then birdied the last from 30 feet, completing a finish that overturned the Europeans' lead and secured a point for the United States.

Europe had moved ahead earlier in the day by winning three of the four morning foursomes after the first two sessions of the competition had finished level. Maja Stark and Linn Grant defeated Allisen Corpuz and world number one Nelly Korda, while Leona Maguire and Esther Henseleit beat Kupcho and Rose Zhang. European newcomers Mimi Rhodes and Nastasia Nadaud also won, against Auston Kim and Andrea Lee.

The only American point of the morning came from Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin, who defeated Charley Hull and Lottie Woad 6&5. European captain Anna Nordqvist kept Hull and Woad together for the afternoon, but they were beaten again, this time by Yealimi Noh and Andrea Lee. Woad kept that match alive with a 15-foot putt at the 17th before Hull sent her tee shot into water on the final hole.

Stark and Grant added another European point in the fourballs by beating Coughlin and Megan Khang. Elsewhere, Kim and Zhang defeated Maguire and Nadaud 3&2, contributing to the American recovery. US captain Angela Stanford rested Korda for the afternoon, while Coughlin is set to be the only American to appear in all five sessions.

The tied score leaves different targets for the two teams in the singles. The United States, who won the trophy two years ago, need six of the remaining 12 points to retain it. Europe require six and a half to regain the cup, after a Saturday that began with a successful foursomes session but ended with Kupcho's decisive putting.