Defeat won't deter Davies Solheim Cup

A heavy defeat has not diminished the desire of Laura Davies to compete in the next Solheim Cup.

Davies was surprisingly beaten 7 and 5 by 19-year-old Paula Creamer as the US won the final singles series 7½-4½ to regain the cup 15½-12½ and end Europe's dream of a first win on US soil.

The English 41-year-old is the only player to have played in all nine Solheim Cups and expects to be at the 10th at Halmstad in Sweden in two years.

"Absolutely, I want to be there," said the former world number one.

"I expect to win enough points to make the team and, if not, I will be begging the captain for a pick."

European captain Catrin Nilsmark admitted she was "very proud" of her team despite losing to America at Crooked Stick in Carmel, Indiana.

"The Americans played unbelievable golf," said Nilsmark, who steered the team to victory at Barseback in her native Sweden two years ago.

"They got a lot of red on the board early which made it very difficult for us. We did fight back, but it wasn't quite good enough. But there is always one team that plays better, and it was them."

England's Karen Stupples, one of the European rookies, was involved in the match which ended the contest, losing 3 and 1 to eight-time Solheim player Meg Mallon.

"I do feel a little responsible but I kept fighting to the end," said Stupples, who played in only two matches and lost both.

"Meg is a very solid player, but I just wish I had risen to the occasion a little better."

Stupples, last year's Women's British Open Champion, went on to admit the Solheim experience was the most nerve-wracking of her career.

"Nothing can quite prepare you for this week," she said. "I had a knot in my stomach all day and even doing simple things like drinking water was tough.

"I only played in one match before the singles (a Friday fourball) and it's tough sitting out. I felt I needed more experience.

"But Catrin is a great captain and she has to do what she thinks is the best for the team and how to get the points on the board."

An emotional Nancy Lopez, the US captain, admitted regaining the cup and extending the US record overall to 6-3 was "the best thing that has ever happened to me".

"It is awesome. I'm so proud of my team and they all did a really good job," she said.

"The Europeans played hard and fought hard but my team and the fans were unbelievable."