Americans All Wet in Solheim; Hughes Still Leads by One Shot

The Americans are on the verge of being washed away in the Solheim Cup.

With heavy rain turning the rough to a quagmire, Europe took a five-point lead over the United States in the Solheim Cup before play was called off Saturday at Luss, Scotland.

Conditions bordered on unplayable as the Europeans won the two opening fourball matches in the women’s version of the Ryder Cup.

With four more fourball (best ball) still to be played, Europe has a 7 1/2-2 1/2 lead at Loch Lomond Golf Club.

The heavily favored Americans, who have won four of the five Solheim Cups, need 13 points to retain the cup and Europe needs 13 1/2. Europe’s only victory came eight years ago in Scotland.

“We’re sick of being beat, to be honest,” said England’s Trish Johnson. “We all play over there, 90% of the team play in the States all year long. It’s not much fun every two years going back to play there when you know what they’re thinking.”

Johnson and Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson stayed unbeaten in three matches, beating Rosie Jones and Becky Iverson, 3 and 2. Nicholas and Helen Alfredsson beat Juli Inkster and Sherri Steinhauer, 3 and 2. Alfredsson, playing poorly most of the season, ran off six birdies.

In the four matches still on the course, Europe led in two, was even in one, with the Americans leading in the other. Officials hoped to complete the fourball matches today with 12 singles still to get in.

More rain was expected today and Monday. Officials agreed that the leader at dusk Monday will be the winner.

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Bradley Hughes regrouped after losing five strokes to par in the first 10 holes, and had four birdies in the last five for a one-stroke lead in the Michelob Championship at Williamsburg, Va.

Hughes, who started the day with a three-shot lead, lost it all, and then some, with bogeys on his first four holes. But after everyone who made a run at the lead faltered, he emerged on top with his late flurry.

“I wanted to be leading, but not that way,” the Australian said after his one-over-par 72 in the third round. “It was a horrible start, but it wasn’t the end of the day.”

Hughes is a 10-under 203.

David Duval, a two-time winner here, was joined by non-winners Chris Riley and Frank Lickliter at 204. Duval had a 69 with three bogeys, and Riley and Lickliter had up-and-down 68s.

David Sutherland, second going into the round and playing in the final group, had a share of the lead heading to No. 18. But he hit his drive way right, chipped back into play, pulled his approach and three-putted.

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Jim Thorpe and Jesse Patino, both looking for a breakthrough victory on the Senior PGA Tour, shared a one-stroke lead in the Transamerica Championship at Napa, Calif. Nineteen golfers were within five shots of the lead after the second round at the Silverado Country Club.

Thorpe and Patino, with scores of 11-under-par 133 after two rounds, moved into the lead after Bruce Summerhays and Hugh Baiocchi, who led much of the day, bogeyed the tricky 17th hole and finished at 10 under.

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Colin Montgomerie opened a three-hole lead over Masters champion Vijay Singh through 14 holes of their semifinal before darkness and rain forced suspension of play at the World Match Play Championship at Virginia Water, England.

Second-seeded Ernie Els led Lee Westwood by one hole in the other semifinal, stopped after 12 holes.

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Two-time winner Ellen Port, 39, of St. Louis, and Anna Schultz, 45, of Richardson, Texas, advanced to the final of the Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach.

Port, who won in 1995 and ‘96, beat Canada’s Judith Allan-Kyrinis in 19 holes, making an eight-foot par putt on the extra hole. Schultz edged Martha Leach of Hebron, Ky., 1-up, in the other semifinal.