The hosts won three of the morning foursomes to close the gap to a single point and led in three of the afternoon fourballs at one point.
However, victories for Carlota Ciganda and rookie Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Charley Hull and Emily Kristine Pedersen ensured Catriona Matthew’s side would lead 9-7 heading into Monday’s 12 singles matches.
Leona Maguire and Mel Reid grabbed a final hole birdie to halve their match. PHOTO: Getty Images.
That advantage looked set to be a single point until Mel Reid and Leona Maguire snatched a half against Jennifer Kupcho and Lizette Salas on the 18th; Reid getting a fortunate bounce off the bank of a bunker to set up a birdie from close range.
“Every half point, I’ve realised over the years, is absolutely crucial,” Matthew said.
“From the start to the day it looked like the momentum was kind of heading towards the US, but kind of edged back a little bit in the afternoon and that half point has buoyed us up I think.
“(We’re) very confident. Two-point lead, we would have taken that when we teed off the first round. So yeah, delighted to be going in with a lead.”
Team Europe Captain Catriona Matthew will be looking to secure the Cup early in the final day singles. PHOTO: Getty Images.
Yealimi Noh and Mina Harigae defeated Celine Boutier and Sophia Popov 3 and 1 in the first fourball match to level the overall score, but Hull and Pedersen beat Danielle Kang and Austin Ernst 4 and 2 moments before Ciganda and Madsen edged out Jessica Korda and Megan Khang on the last.
Megan Khang and Jessica Korda share some joy during the fourballs but would later lose their match on the final hole. PHOTO: Getty Images.
In the morning foursomes, Maguire had teamed up with Reid for the pair’s second foursomes success on Sunday, thrashing world No.1 Nelly Korda and Ally Ewing 5 and 4.
That gave Europe a four-point lead in pursuit of only a second victory on US soil in the contest’s 31-year history, only for the hosts to win the three remaining matches to close the gap to a single point.
The Solheim Cup Singles draw, (Europe names first)
Anna Nordqvist v Lexi Thompson
Madelene Sagstrom v Ally Ewing
Leona Maguire v Jennifer Kupcho
Georgia Hall v Nelly Korda
Celine Boutier v Mina Harigae
Nanna Koerstz Madsen v Austin Ernst
Matilda Castren v Lizette Salas
Carlota Ciganda v Brittany Altomare
Sophia Popov v Megan Khang
Mel Reid v Yealimi Noh
Charley Hull v Jessica Korda
Emily Kristine Pedersen v Danielle Kang
© Golf Australia. All rights reserved.