CARMEL, Ind. - America's young golf stars had already proven they were bold, brash and bubbly before the Solheim Cup. Now the world knows they're pretty tough under pressure, too.

Carrying the hopes of Hall-of-Famers and their other teammates, rookies Paula Creamer, Christina Kim and Natalie Gulbis played like veterans Sunday, seizing control of their singles matches quickly and closing them out early to help the U.S. team reclaim the Solheim Cup 15½-12½.

"I think people questioned why I played the rookies on the first day," American captain Nancy Lopez said. "I thought if they were the players I thought they were, they'd be OK after one or two holes, and they did great."

By the time Sunday's singles rolled around, the youngsters were making birdies, scrambling the few times they got into trouble, inspiring teammates and, of course, pumping up fans.

As Meg Mallon walked down the 16th fairway with an opportunity to clinch the cup, her U.S. teammates strode past and the rookies gestured to the huge gallery to cheer, chant and sing.

When Mallon sank a 5-footer for par to ensure the U.S. team of the last half-point it needed, the three rookies jumped in unison and celebrated on the green.

The celebration spilled over onto the 17th tee and continued for two more holes.

Rosie Jones, playing in the last singles match, watched it all unfold from the 16th fairway.

"I kind of kept into the grind and stayed with it as long as I could," she said. "Then on 16, I was walking up the fairway and when I saw everybody celebrating on the 16th green and 17th, Meg's walk was beautiful. I enjoyed it on the fairway from 16 and was chanting for her."

Later, the celebration was tempered because Lopez said the heat made Mallon lightheaded, and she was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

But the U.S. rookies were front and center Sunday.

The Americans couldn't have expected more from Creamer, Kim and Gulbis, who delivered clutch performances worthy of their Hall-of-Fame leaders - Lopez and Donna Caponi.

For the Europeans, that spelled disaster.

"They were huge," captain Catrin Nilsmark said. "That's not what we needed, I think, for us to win."

For the first time in 11 years, the match was tied at 8-all entering singles.

Creamer made sure it wasn't tied for long.

In the second group off, the youngest Solheim qualifier ever at 19, quickly took advantage of 41-year-old Laura Davies. Creamer consistently knocked her ball closer to the hole, sank putt after putt and made Davies look like anything but the reliable winner she's been for the Europeans in eight previous cups.

Instead, the big-hitting Brit struggled. Creamer, who predicted an American victory two weeks ago, won two of the first three holes, then took five in a row to go 7-up after 10. Three holes later, Creamer closed out a 7 and 5 win.

"It's not all about experience," Creamer said. "It's about having the games and experience. I knew if I kept the pressure on, I could play good golf."

Kim was next.

The exuberant 21-year-old fan favorite, and an annoyance to the European players for her gestures and cheerleading, won at Nos. 3, 4, 7, 8, 11 and 12 and lost only one hole in beating France's Ludivine Kreutz 5 and 4.

Gulbis, playing two groups behind Kim, made the turn with a 2-up lead and won No. 12 to put more pressure on Sweden's Maria Hjorth. Hjorth rallied to win at 16, but couldn't prevent the inevitable.

Gulbis' 2 and 1 victory made it 14-9 and moved the Americans within a half-point of the cup.

The Europeans lost six of the first seven matches.

"It was hard," Nilsmark said. "We got down by so much. There were some big numbers up there."

Europe's only point in that stretch came from Annika Sorenstam, who struggled at the outset. The Swede was 1-down after three holes, but led at the turn and eventually beat Beth Daniel 4 and 3.

But Sorenstam knew her team was in trouble.

"I did the best I could," she said. "I got my point, that's all I can do."

The American veterans took care of the rest.

Juli Inkster beat Sophie Gustafson 2 and 1, and Pat Hurst rallied from 1-down to beat Britain's Trish Johnson 2 and 1.

Mallon took the lead on the second hole and never trailed in a 3 and 1 victory over Karen Stupples.

Laura Diaz easily won the battle of expectant mothers, beating Iben Tinning 6 and 5, and Jones halved the final match with Sweden's Suzann Pettersen.

Europe got 2 and 1 wins from Gwladys Nocera, over Cristie Kerr, and Carin Koch, over Michele Redman. Catriona Matthew scored Europe's other point, beating Wendy Ward 3 and 2.

Again, Europe failed to win on American soil. This time, the main reason was the play of America's new generation of golfers.

Kim was 2-1-1 in four matches, while Gulbis finished 3-1.

But Creamer, who once carried Inkster's bag at the Solheim Cup, had a larger burden at this year's cup. She played in all five rounds, finished 3-1-1 and helped lead her team to victory.

"She carried me this week," Inkster said.

"She carried me, too," Kerr said.