Lauren Coughlin Helps Team USA to Solheim Cup Victory

GAINESVILLE, Va. — Virginia alumna Lauren Coughlin makes her Solheim Cup (Sept. 13-15) debut in her home state at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. Follow along for results and recaps throughout the tournament.

Friday, September 13

Match 2 | Lauren Coughlin/Rose Zhang def. Celine Boutier/Albane Valenzuela 3&2
Lauren Coughlin paired with Solheim Cup sophomore Rose Zhang jumped out to an early 1-up lead over the Europeans after birding the par-4 No. 2. The duo did not trail through the entirety of their match even after Albane Valenzuela and Celine Boutier managed to tie the match up after earning a birdie of their own on No. 9. The Americans retook their lead on No. 12 and added to it with a birdie on No. 13 to take the 2-up lead. The two never trailed again taking a 3-up lead on No. 14 after Valenzuela went for the green in two shots, and landed the ball just short of the green, in the water, and the U.S. duo made a par. Zhang and Coughlin held that until the end taking home the 3&2 victory and the second point for the Americans.

“I think — I don’t know.  I think I mentally prepared myself really well,” Coughlin said about taking her first opening tee shot at the Solheim Cup. “I was pretty nervous actually yesterday.  I wasn’t too bad today.  I think I’d done a really good job of trying to prepare myself mentally for what I might feel. I don’t know, I think I just felt super prepared and was able to hit it right down the middle.”

Match 7 | Lauren Coughlin/Sarah Schmelzel (USA) def. Emily Pedersen/Maja Stark (EUR), 3 and 2
Paired together for their second match of the day, Solheim Cup rookies Coughlin and Schmelzel battled out a 3 and 2 victory over Europe’s Stark and Pedersen, who together won their morning foursomes match earlier on Friday. The two pairs remained tied through the first six holes on Friday – it’s just the third time that’s happened in Solheim Cup history and the U.S. Team lost each time – until the American’s drew first blood to take a lead that they would not relinquish. A birdie on 7 from Schmelzel put the U.S. 1-up and Coughlin made it 2-up with a birdie on the very next hole, the par-5 8th. The Europeans made up ground courtesy of a birdie from Pedersen on 9, but Schmezel took it back with a birdie on 10. The Americans went 3-up on 13 thanks again to Schmelzel, but it was Coughlin who closed the door. After the Pedersen made birdie on the par-3 16th, the Virginia native answered with a more than 15-foot putt for birdie to end the day with a roar.

Coughlin and Schmelzel each improved to 2-0 in their Solheim Cup careers, since both won their morning foursomes matches. It is the first time a U.S. Solheim Cup rookie has gone 2-0 on Day 1 since Danielle Kang did so in 2017.

Overall, the Americans took a 6-2 lead at the conclusion of competition on Friday.

Saturday, September 14

Match 11 – Lauren Coughin/Lexi Thompson def. Maja Stark/Georgia Hall 4&3
Lauren Coughlin became just the third American Solheim Cup rookie to win each of her first three matches as she teamed up Lexi Thompson to defeat the European duo of Georgia Hall and Maja Stark by a 4-and-3 margin. The Americans went 1 up on the second hole with a birdie and never relinquished their lead at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. Birdies on holes 11 and 13 put the U.S. duo 3 up before they rounded out their match on 15 with another birdie to secure a full point for the home side.

“It’s been incredible,” said Coughlin. “In the beginning of the week, it was so busy, and I couldn’t wait to get to Friday and then it was Thursday night and I was like, man, I wish I would have enjoyed a week a little bit more, it just went by so far. It’s been awesome, and I’ve been enjoying every minute.”

Sunday, September 15

Match 24 – Maja Stark (EUR) tied Lauren Coughlin (USA) TIED
Virginia native Lauren Coughlin thrilled the local crowds gathered at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, fighting back from a three-hole deficit to earn a vital half point against Sweden’s Maja Stark. Coughlin’s comeback brought the U.S. Team to 14 total points, cementing at least a tie.

Stark made methodical work out of the first 10 holes, building a 3-up lead. On the back nine, Coughlin won No. 11 with a birdie to pull within two, then another birdie at No. 12 brought Coughlin to just 1 down. She tied the match with yet another birdie at No. 14. Sitting tied on the final hole, Stark’s approach flew to the back of the green and she put too much power on her stroke, sending the ball 6 feet past the hole. Coughlin’s birdie attempt to win the Cup outright came up just short and Stark converted the nervy comebacker to clinch the half point.

With a 3-0-1 record this year, Coughlin ties the record for most points earned by an American rookie with 2024 Assistant Captain Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie West and Nelly Korda

“I fight, that’s kind of what I do. I don’t give up on a round ever. As long as I’m still in it, I’m going to keep playing,” said Coughlin, who lives just 80 miles from the course in Charlottesville, Va. “So I kind of just kept pushing and eventually started hitting shots how I normally do and finally started making some putts at the end.”