Keeping the hardware
Pepper leads U.S. to Solheim Cup victory
Posted: Sunday September 20, 1998 07:08 PM
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Getting the job done: Pepper went 4-0 this week, helping the U.S. win its fourth Solheim Cup title AP |
DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) -- Dottie Pepper won another emotional match and Sherri Steinhauer hit two memorable iron shots down the stretch for the deciding point as the United States blunted a European comeback Sunday to retain the Solheim Cup.
Criticized by the Europeans for her emotional displays and cheerleading on the course, Pepper ran her record to 4-0 this week and 10-1 in the last three Solheims.
"I get inspired for stuff like this," Pepper said. "I love a team format and playing for your country gives me goosebumps."
The 16-12 victory was the Americans' fourth in the five biennial competitions, the women's version of the men's Ryder Cup. Europe's only victory came in 1992 at Dalmahoy in Scotland.
Ahead 10 1/2-5 1/2 to start the final day, the United States needed just 3 1/2 points in singles to retain the Solheim Cup. With one point up for grabs in each of the 12 head-to-head matches, Europe applied the heat by capturing Sunday's first three matches at Muirfield Village Golf Club.
"They came out with their guns loaded," Pepper said.
But then Pepper completed a 3 and 2 victory over Trish Johnson, followed by Rosie Jones' 6 and 4 win over Catrin Nilsmark.
After knocking a wedge shot within 4 feet at the par-4 14th to clinch the match, Jones -- who played at nearby Ohio State -- pumped her arm and smiled to the crowd as she walked to the green.
Then Kelly Robbins drained a 12-foot birdie putt at the 17th to close out Charlotta Sorenstam 2 and 1 to move the U.S. team within a point of retaining the crystal championship trophy.
Steinhauer -- who didn't earn her way onto the team but was selected by captain Judy Rankin -- took it from there.
Charlotta Sorenstam fell in her match with Kelly Robbins 2 and 1 AP | |
Steinhauer assured the United States of retaining the cup when her third-shot approach on the par-5 15th came to rest 18 inches from the hole. Her birdie tap-in locked up the half-point the Americans' needed to keep the Solheim Cup.
0 Then on the 159-yard, par-3 16th, Steinhauer hit an iron to 8 feet. Europe's Catriona Matthew followed with a clutch shot of her own, knocking the ball two feet inside of Steinhauer's.
"I knew she was going to make that putt, so I said to myself, `Let's just get this thing over with,' " Steinhauer said. "What a feeling!"
Tammie Green, who lives just 50 miles away in Somerset, Ohio, was followed by a large partisan gallery in beating Alison Nicholas 1-up.
In the final match of the day, Meg Mallon conceded the final hole to Europe's Sophie Gustafson -- even though Mallon was on the
back fringe and was ahead 1-up while Gustafson had an 18-foot birdie putt.
The late American heroics followed a valiant comeback by the Europeans, who went 6-5-1 on the final day.
Laura Davies got the first of Europe's points, taking advantage of Pat Hurst's errant drive on the closing hole for a 1-up victory.
Moments later, Helen Alfredsson saved par at 17 with an 8-foot putt that closed out Juli Inkster 2 and 1. It was Inkster who had given the United States a dramatic final point as the sun was setting Saturday night, rolling in a 45-foot putt at the 17th and then pirouetting three times across the green in celebration.
Annika Sorenstam made it three straight for Europe when she closed out Donna Andrews 2 and 1.
Sorenstam, the world's No. 1-ranked player, birdied the 13th hole, then went par, bogey, bogey to see her lead drop to 2-up going to 17. From the back fringe, she chipped up for an
easy par to lock up the point.
Europe also picked up points on Liselotte Neumann's 1-up victory over Brandie Burton, Marie Laure de Lorenzi's 1-up decision over Chris Johnson and Lisa Hackney's landslide 6 and 5 win over LPGA Hall of Famer Betsy King.
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