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Solheim Cup is even for singles

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Associated Press

The Solheim Cup is coming down to the singles.

Michelle Wie and Cristie Kerr overcame a dismal final two holes to win their match at Sugar Grove, Ill., giving the United States a split in the afternoon foursomes Saturday and sending the Americans into today’s 12 single matches tied.

Both teams have eight points; the United States needs 14 points to win the Cup for a third straight time, while Europe needs 14 1/2 points to claim its first victory on U.S. soil.

The afternoon matches weren’t the Americans’ finest -- there were two big losses, and Wie and Kerr struggled down the stretch. But since the Solheim Cup began in 1990, the Americans have a .602 winning percentage in singles and have lost only three times.

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The last was in 2003 -- also the last time Europe won the Solheim Cup.

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Bryant ups lead

Brad Bryant came off the course at the Jeld-Wen Tradition with a huge grin. He had just shot a five-under 67 to take a two-stroke advantage over Mike Reid into the final round.

Bryant padded his lead to go to 15 under at Crosswater Golf Club in Sunriver, Ore.

“I’d like to play tomorrow exactly like I played today. If I do that, I don’t care if I win or not,” he said. “If I play as well tomorrow as I did today and somebody beats me, they deserve it more than me.”

Reid birdied the par-four 18th hole to finish with a 66 and go to 13 under in the fourth of five majors on the Champions Tour.

Bryant had consecutive birdies on the 15th and 16th holes. He came close to another one on the par-3 No. 17, but his putt came to rest on the lip of the hole.

John Cook had a 68, putting him at 12 under going into today’s final. Larry Mize was at 10 under after a third-round 70.

“Definitely could have been a little more tidy today,” Cook said. “But I’m happy with that.”

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Still rainy

Sergio Garcia and Chris Riley were both 13 under par through 10 holes to share the clubhouse lead when play was stopped midway through the third round of the rain-plagued Wyndham Championship at Greensboro, N.C.

Steve Marino, Fred Couples, Kevin Stadler and Justin Rose were 12 under and Brandt Snedeker and Bill Haas were 11 under through varying stages of their rounds when play was suspended because of darkness.

Tournament officials said the round was scheduled to resume this morning, with a second cut and the final round to begin at roughly 11 a.m. EDT.

Play was halted twice Saturday because of rain and lightning. After the second round was completed mid-morning, the start of Round 3 was pushed back 2 1/2 hours as thunderstorms came through.

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