A fitting end to the Davies-Inkster match

• By Jay Coffin
• Sep 25, 2011 1:01 PM ET

DUNSANY, Ireland – It wasn't pretty golf, but that wasn't the point.

Solheim Cup legends and longtime friends Juli Inkster and Laura Davies faced off for the first time in Solheim singles. Davies told Inkster on Saturday that she was going out fourth in singles and advised Inkster to tell captain Rosie Jones she wanted the fourth position as well. Jones obliged.

The ultimate outcome was a halved match, which is fitting.

Inkster, 51, and Davies, 47, both made two birdies in the match but it was Davies who made a late unforced error. She was 1 up on the 18th hole but hit her approach to the par-4 into the greenside bunker. Inkster found the bunker too but she nearly holed out her bunker shot, then easily tapped in for par. Davies blasted out to 12 feet and missed the par putt.

"I think a halve is probably a fair result," Davies said. "Juli hit a great shot under pressure, so you can't really argue with that."

"We're good friends, we've played a lot of golf together," Inkster said. "I know she's disappointed  but I think we both felt like we left a few out there."

Inkster "retired" from the Solheim Cup two years ago, but when she made this year's team on points, it was impossible for her to pass. It's unlikely that she'll play again in two years at Colorado Golf Club.

Davies, on the other hand, says that she'll never retire. She said earlier this week that she'd love to qualify for the 2013 Solheim Cup. If she does make that squad she'll have to raise her level of play and fend off several top young European players who are waiting in the wings.