Flashing back 19 years, the sixth edition of the biennial women’s professional golf tournament, the Solheim Cup, was about to get underway at Loch Lomond Golf Club in Scotland. The US team held a 4-1-victory record against Europe and were on a winning streak having taken home the trophy in 1994, 1996, and 1998. The European Captain, Dale Reid, had a tough task ahead to regain the trophy.
American Captain Pat Bradley had brought the best players the US could offer, with a combined 123 LPGA titles between them, 19 of which were major titles. Meanwhile, Reid’s team only held 46 LPGA titles, just 4 of them being majors. Europe needed a quick start against Bradley’s American troops and they managed just that. After Laura Davies and Alison Nicholas managed to beat the US pairing Juli Inkster and Dottie Pepper in the first game of morning foursomes with a dominant 4&3,
Europe went on to complete a clean sweep with three other wins to race into a commanding lead. America cut the deficit when Rosie Jones and Becky Iverson defeated Davies and Nicholas 6&5 in the first game of afternoon foursomes. Kelly Robbins and Pat Hurst added a point for the USA while Juli Inkster and Sherri Steinhauer halved their match. Europe’s Annika Sorenstam and Janice Moodie stole a point from Meg Mallon and Beth Daniel. Europe still led 5 1/2 - 2 1/2.
On the second day, the matches were held in fourball format featuring all 12 players. Europe took command from the opening match as Trish Johnson and Sophie Gustafson defeated Jones and Iverson 3&2, followed by Alison Nicholas and Helen Alfredsson who matched that score against Inkster and Steinhauer.
The remaining fourball matches were suspended as rain washed out play for the day. The following morning, Catrin Nilsmark and Carin Koch added a point for the European side, while two other matches earned only a half point for each team.
