Sunday, July 28, 2013

Team Euro Solheim Cup Watch: Ladies European Masters Sunday

I'll bet Team Euro wishes it could sign up some South Africans and Australians for the Solheim Cup right about now, what with Order of Merit leader Lee-Anne Pace moving to T16 in the Ladies European Masters after barely making the cut yesterday thanks to a final-round 67 (bringing her even with Cheyenne Woods, who closed with a 73), Nikki Campbell (formerly of the JLPGA) climbing to T12 on the strength of a 67-68 weekend, the unheralded Rebecca Artis shooting a 70 to catch Charley Hull at -8 (T9), and, of course, Karrie Webb going 68-67-65 to finish at -16 (3 shots ahead of fellow LPGAers Sandra Gal and Christina Kim), with only Ashleigh Simon and Caroline Masson having a chance to force a playoff with her.  Let's see what happens with that before moving onto the Solheim Cup implications for those like Hull and Gal fighting to join Team Euro.

[Update 1 (10:49 am):  Well, Simon couldn't birdie 18.  She finished at -15.]

[Update 2 (10:50 am):  It's Simon's 2nd top 5 in a row after barely playing in the 1st half of the season.  Wonder if she had been hurt?]

[Update 3 (10:51 am):  Masson, meanwhile, made 4 birdies in her last 10 holes, but had 2 costly bogeys down the stretch, on 15 and 18, to fall to 3rd at -14.  Looks like Webb's opening 30 was what sealed the deal for her!]

[Update 4 (11:04 am):  So let's talk Solheim Cup implications.  Masson solidified her position on Team Euro with her 3rd-place finish, particularly because an Australian and South African ensured nobody eligible for the team snagged more points than she did this week.  Gwladys Nocera hurt her cause with a final-round 75 that dropped her to T27 (tied with Laura Davies and Carin Koch, so at least she was in good company).  If Captain Liselotte Neumann is impressed by Gal's 68-68-67 (T4), puts aside Hull's weak finish today, and goes with Caroline Hedwall and Jodi Ewart Shadoff, both Nocera and Guilia Sergas would be out in the cold.  The WBO could end up being a playoff between Hull, Nocera, and Sergas for the last spot.]

[Update 5 (11:07 am):  Tale of 2 finishes watch:  Cheyenne Woods closed with a triple on the par-3 18th; Christina Kim got a slick walkoff hole in 1!!]

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