Creamer, Lincicome leave Europeans 'gutted'

• By Jay Coffin
• Sep 23, 2011 7:52 AM ET

DUNSANY, Ireland – Friday morning foursomes of the Solheim Cup ended in a 2-2 tie, but the Americans stole one of the matches. Paula Creamer and Brittany Lincicome were 2 down after 14 holes but won three of the last four holes to defeat Melissa Reid and Karen Stupples, 1 up.

The match was odd from the start when the U.S. won the first two holes to quickly take an advantage. But Europe won four of the next five holes and hold on to that 2-up lead until the 14th. The U.S. made birdie on the par-5 15th when Lincicome stuffed her third shot to 3 feet. Creamer made the putt to cut the deficit to 1 down.

The two teams both parred the 16th – Stupples made a 16-foot par save – and the U.S. won No. 17 to square the match after Europe drove it left into thick rough off the tee and made double bogey.

Coming down the home hole it seemed the match was destined to end all square. The Americans found the green in two on the par-4 hole and the Europeans were short in two because of a wayward drive. Stupples chunked her chip shot 20 feet and it ended in deep rough on the down slope of the left greenside bunker. Reid had a terrible stance, hit the ball onto the back of the green and Europe conceded when their first putt ran well past the hole.

"I'm gutted that I didn't pull that shot off when I needed to," Stupples said. "But it's golf. Good thing there are more matches to go."

Said Creamer: "It was a crazy last couple of holes. We just wanted a halve. To walk away with a win, we'll take it."

Creamer will see Reid again this afternoon. She is first off in fourballs with Morgan Pressel and will face Reid and Laura Davies. Lincicome will team with Vicky Hurst against Sophie Gustafson and Caroline Hedwall. Stupples is sitting out the session.