Mimi Rhodes is in what has been a popular spot on the short sixth this week. Her ball is in a dell just off the back left of the green.

And she hits an exquisite chip up to kick-in range.

But Nelly Korda is staring down a 15-footer to get her nose back in front. And the world number one does what world number ones do best. This is shaping up to be a belter of a contest.

It never rains but it pours. Angel Yin, coming out of the rough on the seventh goes flag-chasing but that's a poor shot, her ball going for a swim in the stream that protects the front edge of the green.

And that means Linn Grant can play a more conservative second into the heart of the green, knowing that two putts will probably be enough to go three clear.

Round one to Lauren Coughlin in this heavyweight prize fight of a match - and annoyingly for Leona Maguire she loses to a par after a sticky start.

So the American lands an early blow but watch out for more haymakers, and plenty more boxing puns, coming up in this match.

Like her namesake, Alison Lee also had a bit of a nightmare having to bunt it out from among the pine trees and then finding the bunker, so it's inevitable that Esther Henseleit wins this one.

That makes it three in a row for the German and a four-up lead early on.

I'm not sure anybody has a better highlight reel this week than Maja Stark, who has made big putts, big chips and taken down some big names.

Stark and fellow Swede Linn Grant handed Nelly Korda and Allisen Corpuz their first ever foursomes defeat then ended Lauren Coughlin's unbeaten record and Megan Khang's winning run.

But now the giant killer is the giant as Stark faces rookie Lindy Duncan and from the hunter she's the hunted as she's favourite to beat the American. That's an interesting change in dynamic for this match.

Nastasia Nadaud wins the third hole after a bit of a nightmare for Andrea Lee as the young Frenchwoman.

The long par-five fifth is not reachable in two but Mimi Rhodes is more accurate than Nelly Korda with her third shot.

Korda to putt first from around 30 feet and her ball zips a good four feet beyond the hole. In fact, it's outside Rhodes' ball so she's putting again. Holes it.

Rhodes has landed big hole-halving putts already today. How's the nerves on a hole-winner from inside four feet? Solid. A fist pump and a wave of the arms to call for more support from the already raucous fans.

We spoke about not making mistakes against the solid Allisen Corpuz, and that's exactly what nanna Koerstz Madsen did on four with that botched chip.

Corpuz makes a regulation par and that's more than good enough thanks to that error. Madsen has been well on top so far but the lead is just one.

As we keep mentioning, Angel Yin has not played a lot of competitive golf in recent months. And it's showing.

An errant chip after a wayward tee shot on the short sixth almost scuds through the green.

Linn Grant is on point with her birdie try, knocking it to gimme range.

And that leaves Angel Yin with a 12-footer for a half. Missed. Another hole gone.

Sit rep - Bernadus is a tough golf course today.

In the last few moments we've seen Alison Lee sutck in among the pine cones, Andrea Lee seems to have hammered a fairway wood into the hazard and Nanna Koerstz Madsen has seen a chip up to the fourth come rolling back down to her feet.

Golf in the rain folks. It's tough.

There's plenty of blue on the board early, but just remember it's not over until it's over in matchplay golf.

As Jennifer Kupcho showed yesterday...

Lottie Woad leaves a birdie putt on the first green which gives Auston Kim the chance to take an early lead.

But the American pushes her birdie try from a dozen feet past the right edge of the hole.

Image source, Getty Images

Talk about a street fight!

Lauren Coughlin was literally unbeatable in the Solheim Cup until, again, she came upagainst the Swedish giant killers Maja Stark and Linn Grant yesterday.

Before that she'd gone seven matches without defeat, winning five of them including a 6&5 destruction of Charley Hull and Lottie Woad.

And speaking of Solheim Cup specialists, how about Leona Maguire? The fastest ever to win 10 Solheim Cup points who walks onto the first tee today with a perfect singles record - winning all three contests.

Get the popcorn out...

Much was hoped for from Europe's top ranked player Lottie Woad coming into this week but the Englishwoman has not really fired alongside Charley Hull in four matches.

Will it be fifth time lucky for the world number seven as she heads out on her own?

She is playing another rookie in Auston Kim, who has one win and two defeats to her name this week.

An error from Angel Yin on the long fifth as she pushes a shot towards the green into water.

Keeping the grips dry is going to be crucial.

Linn Grant takes advantage by nudging her third onto the green.

We catch up with Yin in a greenside bunker. It's her fifth shot. She flicks the ball out to six feet but immediately concedes the hole.

Esther Henseleit plays a nice regulation par on the sixth and Alison Lee can't answer after missing the greem hitting a chip too far and then not making the six footer coming back.

Conditions are tough out there but players still hate to lose holes to par. Henseleit is delighted though as she goes three up early.

Amy Boulden
Former LET Tour player on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3 at Bernardus Golf Club

Mimi Rhodes has holed a few par saves for the half in the last few holes. That will really settle her down.

Nelly Korda doesn't look like the happiest person at Bernardus Golf Club as she shelters under an umbrella but she's already in the hole for three.

And that means Mimi Rhodes has another putt to halve the hole. This one is about three feet and she rams it home.

Image source, Getty Images

The crowd at Bernardus don't care about the rain, but what about the players? Golfers are sun chaser so it's not too often they play in these type of conditions.

Traditionally you'd say it favours Europe but as with the men's game all 24 players on show today hold LPGA Tour cards so a lot of them will be more accustomed to the shorts and t-shirt golf than waterproof jackets.

Do you think this will favour Europe? Vote with your thumbs and let us know.

Image source, Getty Images