Maguire and Europe win Solheim Cup

Leona Maguire was unable to preserve her 100% singles record in the Solheim Cup at Bernadus Golf Course in the Netherlands but it mattered little as Europe won 15-12 against the United States.

The Irish woman fell to a 2&1 defeat to Lauren Coughlin.

The sides were deadlocked at 8-8 at the start of the day and Maguire was the ninth European player out, pitted against Minneapolis-born Coughlin.

Maguire had won her three previous singles matches but found the American a tough nut to crack in the Netherlands.

A par at the opening hole was enough for Coughlin to land the first blow.

The 31-year-old demonstrated her class at the fifth, navigating the downslope at the back of a bunker, but her approach skipped along the green. To compound matters, Coughlin carefully set up a birdie chance to go two up.

The advantage was stretched to three by the seventh with Maguire unable to match her in-form opponent.

Coughlin left her putt at 13 right in the jaws, and Maguire responded by reducing the deficit to two strokes.

The 31-year-old seemed to release her frustration with how her round had played out, fist-pumping her way to collect her ball but it was as close as she got as Coughlin earned what could have been a crucial point as things drew to a potentially dramatic conclusion.

However, Europe finished strongly with Lottie Woad - who struggled all week - hitting the putt to regain the title.