Sorenstam and Davies Help Europe Take Lead

Three stunning comebacks, sparked by strong play from Annika Sorenstam and Laura Davies, helped give Europe a 5-3 lead over the U.S. on Friday in the Solheim Cup at Carmel, Ind.

Europe’s lead after the first day seemed improbable when it trailed in three alternate-shot matches during the morning session.

Four holes down with six to play, Sorenstam led the charge by nearly making an ace on the 13th hole and teaming with Suzann Pettersen to win the next five holes for a 1-up victory over Laura Diaz and Michele Redman.

In an afternoon better-ball match, Sorenstam, playing with Catriona Matthew, birdied six out of seven holes to win her second match, beating Pat Hurst and Wendy Ward, 2 and 1.

Sorenstam made three consecutive birdie putts -- one to take the lead, the next two to keep it.

Davies, the only woman to play in every Solheim Cup, trailed only two of the 32 holes she played, winning 2 and 1 with Maria Hjorth in the morning, and teaming with Pettersen in the afternoon for a 4-and-3 victory over Juli Inkster and Paula Creamer.

Davies made six birdies during a nine-hole stretch in her second match.

This is the third time in the last four meetings that Europe has led on the first day, a solid start in its bid to win the event for the first time on U.S. soil.

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Mark Calcavecchia birdied three consecutive holes on the front side, then used a big drive to set up a birdie at 18 for a three-under-par 67 and a five-shot lead after the second round of the Canadian Open at Vancouver. Calcavecchia, who shared the first-round lead with Lucas Glover at 65, is at eight-under 132. Glover shot a 72 and was alone in second.