US players won eight singles matches and halved another to beat Europe 14 1/2-13 1/2 at the Country Club and avoid an unprecedented third loss in a row in the biennial golf matches.

The Americans, with 10 of the world's 16 top-ranked players, rallied from a 10-6 deficit after foursomes and four-ball matches, a hole no team had ever escaped from to win in the Cup's 72-year history.

``I never stopped believing in these guys,'' tearful US captain Ben Crenshaw said. ``I'm stunned. There is such an indomitable spirit in these guys. They always believed in themselves. You've got to believe in fate.''

Leonard certainly does. The US hero rallied from 4 down seven to play to halve with Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal by winning four holes in a row, then taking the pivotal half-point with a stunner at 17.

``Ididn't know if I could make it,'' Leonard said. ``I was trying to make it but I was also trying to get the ball close. That was probably my first goal. It's a putt we had all seen during practice rounds. It was just one of those things. I think the ball was just destined to go in.''

The clincher came on the same hole where US caddie Francis Ouimet sank a decisive birdie to upset five-time British Open champion Harry Vardon and fellow Brit Ted Ray at the 1913 US Open.