Europe claim Solheim Cup in thrilling finale

There was a stunning conclusion to the final days action at the 12th Solheim Cup as Europe produced a magnificent display to reclaim the cup they last won in 2003. On an afternoon where there were many heroes it was Swedish pair Suzann Pettersen and Caroline Hedwall that will take most of the plaudits as they produced remarkable comebacks to earn the crucial winning points. Europe's prospects looked bleak when USA moved into a 12.5-11.5 lead for the first time, but Hedwall who was dormie two stunned the defending champions by taking the last two holes to render azaghara Munoz's final match against Angela Stanford a dead rubber. Prior to Hedwall's stunning recovery to finish A/S Pettersen recovered from one down with three to play to defeat Michelle Wie on the 18th after the American superstar over hit her approach to the last. Hedwall's half point sparked mass celebrations at Killeen Castle as thousands of spectators cheered on the winning Europe team. DAY TWO Laura Davies set a new Solheim Cup points record, but the momentum swung towards the USA after the second day fourballs at Killeen Castle this afternoon. One point down overnight and trailing 5-7 after the morning foursomes, the holders won the fourballs 3-1 to level the score at 8-8. Davies had done her best to set Europe on the right road when she claimed the top match by a comfortable 4 & 3 margin in the company of Melissa Reid. The victims were two of the best in Michelle Wie and Brittany Lang. The only player to compete in all 12 Solheims, 47-year-old Davies was relieved as well as delighted to reach the 24.5 points she needed to overtake Annika Sorenstam as the all-time record holder. With four birdies in a row from the third, Davies' all-English side was four up at the turn. Reid then made her own contribution with an eight foot eagle putt at the long 12th. For the 24-year-old rookie - who had suffered two heartbreaking final green defeats on day one - it was a first Solheim point. The closest match featured Cristie Kerr and Morgan Pressel against world No.2 Suzann Pettersen, and the new European star, Caroline Hedwall. The USA were two up with four to play, but Hedwall made a winning birdie at the long 15th and Pettersen danced in delight by draining a 35-foot birdie at the short 16th. The crowd went mad. But Pressel was having none of it - and she silenced the home fans by ramming in an eight foot birdie putt to win the 17th. They held on for the one-hole victory. Paula Creamer, who is set to play in all five matches, retained her week's unbeaten record with a 3 & 1 win over Maria Hjorth and Azahara Munoz in the final fourball alongside Brittany Lincicome. Rookie Stacy Lewis claimed her first point alongside Ryann O'Toole, who has more than proved her point. She was a controversial Captain's wild card selection and was in poor form coming into the event. The 2 & 1 win over Sandra Gal and Christel Boeljon made it 2.5 points for O'Toole from three outings. The score was also 8-8 at the same stage at Rich Harvest farms in Illinois two years ago and America went on to win 16-12. Europe has only won the singles three times. DAY ONE Suzann Pettersen and Anna Nordqvist won 2-up on the last in their fourball tussle with Cristie Kerr and Michelle Wie to give Europe a slender and valuable one point lead after a thrilling opening day of the Solheim Cup. That stunning victory ensured Alison Nicholas' side emerged buoyant and ahead of Rosie Jones' gutsy USA, whose star performer Paula Creamer was unbeaten in her two matches. Creamer and Morgan Pressel who broke the hearts of Mel Reid and Laura Davies with a final hole victory after overturning a 2-down deficit. Earlier on, the Swedish duo of Sophie Gustafson and rookie Caroline Hedwall thrashed Vicky Hurst and Brittany Lincicombe 5&4 to give Europe its first point of the Fourballs. The Foursomes session had ended in a 2-2 tie, the first time the matches have been tied in the history of the Solheim Cup. And it looked as though Catriona Matthew and Sandra Gal would add to Europe's point haul, only to be pegged back by some superb US putting from Ryan O'Toole and Christina Kim, who birdied 16 and 17 before a final hole putt-out failed to yield the decisive birdie. The vital half point was added to by a full point when Suzann Pettersen and Anna Nordqvist, playing in the deepening gloom at Killeen Castle as night drew in, sealed their narrow win. In the morning Foursomes, Pettersen gave Europe a huge boost by holing an eight foot birdie putt on the final hole to make it honours even after the opening series of foursomes. Pettersen, the world No 2, and Sophie Gustafson had lost the 17th to stand all square in the bottom match against Juli Inkster and Brittany Lang but they pulled a full point out of the bag to make the score 2-all. But the USA team, bidding to win the trophy for the fourth year in a row, showed their own grit and determination with an unlikely win in the second match. The all-English pair of Karen Stupples and Melissa Reid had looked to be in control against Paula Creamer and Brittany LIncicome when they stood two up with four holes to play, but they lost the 15th to a birdie, the 17th to a par and then took six down the 18th after Stupples hit her drive into rough and then bunkered the third shot. It was a one hole victory for Creamer and Lincicome and one of the massive momentum swings that make the Solheim Cup such an absorbing spectacle. There was a great point for Europe from the ever reliable Catriona Matthew and Spanish rookie Azahara Munoz. Never behind in the third match, the home duo were three up after five holes and went on to beat Stacy Lewis and Angela Stanford by a comfortable 3 and 2.