Europe's ladies ahead after day one

Europe resisted a brave American fightback to claim a three-point lead after the first day of the Solheim Cup at Loch Lomond.

Dale Reid's side had created history with a first-ever whitewash in the morning foursomes and a commanding 4-0 lead in the biennial event.

But for much of the afternoon that hard-earned advantage appeared to be slipping away as Pat Bradley's side threatened to close the gap to just half a point.

Laura Davies and Alison Nicholas were thrashed 6 and 5 in the first match of the afternoon to set the tone and although Trish Johnson and Sophie Gustafson earned a half, Swedish pair Helen Alfredsson and Liselotte Neumann - the only change from the morning - lost to Kelly Robbins and Pat Hurst.

That made the final match on the course vitally important and it should have been a comfortable win for Europe with Scot Janice Moodie and Annika Sorenstam three up after 10 holes.

They looked good to go four up on the 11th as well, on the par-three green in one and with their opponents in a bunker, but somehow the home pair contrived to take four putts to get down.

Clearly inspired, the Americans then birdied five of the next six holes and the home pair needed three birdies of their own to go down the 18th all square.

As with the 11th they found the green in regulation and after Meg Mallon and Beth Daniel could only manage a five, had two putts for the match.

Moodie coaxed the ball to the hole side to seal the win and two points out of two for the Edinburgh golfer making her Solheim debut.

Europe therefore ended the day with 5 1/2 points, the United States 2 1/2 with six points to play for on Saturday in the six fourball matches.