Leona Maguire and Esther Henseleit’s late rally in their foursomes match ensured Europe led USA 7-5 after the morning session went the way of the hosts on day two of the Solheim Cup.
After splitting both sessions on Friday, there was once again little between the sides at Bernadus Golf Course in the Netherlands.
Maja Stark and Lin Grant got the hosts off to the perfect start, defeating Allisen Corpuz and Nelly Korda 3&2.
Mimi Rhodes and Natasia Nadaud got the better of Andrea Lee and Auston Kim 4&3, while the biggest winning margin on Saturday morning came with Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin (6&5) utterly dominant against an out-of-sorts English pair Charley Hull and Lottie Woad.
It meant that Jennifer Kupcho and Rose Zhang were bidding to take the point for USA that would make it 6-6 going into the afternoon fourballs.
Heading to the 16th they were on course for that, 1UP on Maguire and Henseleit, but the European pair delivered coming down the stretch to put daylight between the teams for the first time.
Maguire extends her decorated Solheim Cup record to 10-3-1.
Kupcho and Zhang, who lost their foursomes match on Friday morning to Linn Grant and Maja Stark, were on the backfoot immediately against Maguire and Henseleit as the Europeans seized the initiative at the opening hole.
The American pair however soon found their rhythm, levelling matters at the third with Zhang putting from 20 feet before taking the lead at the next hole.
At the sixth, Maguire’s chip was overhit and ended up rolling 10 feet past the flag. Henseleit failed to make par, with Kupcho taking advantage to go two up.
Europe had the chance to halve the deficit at nine, but Henseleit’s miss from three feet sucked some energy from the boisterous crowd.
That miss was quickly forgotten at the 10th as Maguire showed her putting nous, knocking in from 15 feet to apply pressure on Zhang, who failed to hole out from around half that distance.
The Cavan woman followed that with a superb tee shot at 11, but Henseleit’s difficulties on the green continued, stabbing her short putt to the right.
Arguably Maguire’s standout moment of the round came with her bunker shot at 12, a majestic effort that dropped to within three feet, with her German playing partner levelling up matters.
“Just listen to the crowd!”@leona_maguire 😎😎😎#TeamEurope | #SolheimCup pic.twitter.com/wIrLdcuYNG
— Solheim Cup Team Europe (@SolheimCupEuro) September 12, 2026
Maguire held her nerve at 13 to reclaim the lead in the match, fist-pumping to the gallery as Europe moved ahead.
The 14th was something of a rollercoaster. Henseleit found the bunker from her drive, with Maguire hacking out into clumpy heather. Their opponents also found the going tough, but Zhang’s 20-footer ensured Henseleit had no margin for error. Her five-footer tailed to the left.
The US pair made it two in a row at the 15th. With tension rising in the closest foursomes game in the morning session, Maguire found water from the tee.
With a small amount of the ball visible, Henseleit, half standing on with her left leg with her right foot submerged, tried to work her way out, but her effort bounced back into the water, and Europe found themselves one down with three to play.
A decent approach from Henseleit at 16 provided her playing partner with a chance to level matters once again.
The 31-year-old took her time to assess her four footer up the hill, before delivering yet again at a crucial time, to the delirium of the crowd.
The penultimate hole was relatively drama free – Maguire’s timid putt never looked likely to succeed – and it was on to the last with all eyes on the final match of the morning.
Zhang’s error from the sand opened the door and Europe took advantage. Maguire’s approach skipped into the roll-off area, but Henseleit saved some of her best for last, a delicious chip that looks to be heading in, but with only six inches to go, US conceded the par.
Zhang had to pitch in to halve the match, but it was too tall an order as Europe prevailed, winning two of the final three holes.
Having missed out on selection for the Friday fourballs, Maguire will be quickly back out in action this afternoon.
She will be partnered by Natasia Naduad in the third of the fourballs, where they will take on Rose Zhang and Auston Kim.
Saturday Fourballs
12.05pm Maja Stark/Linn Grant v Megan Khang/Lauren Coughlin
12.20pm Charley Hull/Lottie Woad v Yealimi Noh and Andrea Lee
12.35pm Leona Maguire/Natasia Nadaud v Rose Zhang and Auston Kim
12.50pm Carlota Ciganda/Celine Boutier v Jennifer Kupcho and Lindy Duncan