Curtis Cup

Highlights: GB&I lead by two heading into final day of 43rd Curtis Cup

The R&A

31 Aug 24

3 mins

Great Britain and Ireland produced an undefeated afternoon fourballs display to secure a two-point lead going into the final day of the 43^rd Curtis Cup.

Over Sunningdale’s Old Course, Catriona Matthew’s side were full of belief to build a 7-5 advantage ahead of eight singles ties on Sunday. GB&I are bidding to win the Curtis Cup for the first time since their 2016 triumph at Dún Laoghaire in Ireland, with the United States of America having won 11 of the last 13 contests. Matthew’s side need to reach 10.5 points to win the trophy, while the visitors require ten points to retain it. With the scores level at 3-3 overnight, the morning foursomes were halved before Matthew’s side produced an emphatic afternoon display against Meghan Stasi’s USA team to win two-and-half points from three.

Record broken

England’s Lottie Woad, the number one player on the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®), continued to deliver on the big stage. Woad and Ireland’s Sara Byrne have played all four sessions together and are the first pairing to go undefeated since a Curtis Cup format change to three days of competition in 2008. Since the new format in 2008, GB&I have led entering the singles just once – that was in 2016 when they were 8-4 ahead. “The display this afternoon was unbelievable really,” said home Captain, Matthew. "It’s been a pleasure being their captain. “No lead is ever big enough, I don't think, in any kind of sport. But you'd rather be going in 7-5 up than 7-5 down. There's still a long way to go. “I think the message going into Sunday is 'yeah, we've had a great day, but tomorrow is a big day'. The Americans are definitely going to come out fighting. It's far from over yet.”

Crucial half on 18

The USA’s Rachel Kuehn and Megan Schofill claimed a crucial half-point from the final fourball match of the afternoon to deny GB&I a 3-0 clean sweep. “It was important to get a half at the end and the entire team got to see it,” said USA Captain, Stasi. “Rachel and Meg fought really hard in that match and over the last few holes. It was fun to see them get a half. “It was just another tough day where again they made a few longer putts and getting up-and-down from some places. It's match play so anything can happen.”

Afternoon fourballs

Scotland’s Hannah Darling and Mimi Rhodes from England set the tone for GB&I by securing the first point of the afternoon. The pair gelled to record nine birdies and secure a 3&2 victory over Jasmine Koo and 15-year-old Asterisk Talley. Rhodes claimed a first point of the week with the success, while Darling followed up her morning foursomes victory with Aine Donegan of Ireland and now has three points from as many sessions. Beth Coulter and Lorna McClymont combined for a memorable 2&1 win against Anna Davis and Melanie Green. McClymont, who lost The Women’s Amateur Championship final to Green at Portmarnock in June, claimed an element of redemption as she and Coulter registered eight birdies. Coulter’s stunning approach to four feet at the 16^thfor a winning birdie proved crucial. Woad and Byrne then halved a titanic match with Kuehn and Schofill. There was never more than a one-hole advantage for either team in a compelling contest, with Woad’s 30-feet putt at the 12^th for birdie particularly memorable, before the US replied in style at the 17^th when Schofill holed a huge putt.

Morning foursomes

On an overcast day in Berkshire, the contest was perfectly poised after a tense session of morning foursomes. For the first time since the match changed in 2008 to five sessions over three days, the teams were tied halfway through day two on 4.5 points apiece. There was never more than a hole between the pairs in the top match, which saw Woad and Byrne finish all-square against Green and Kuehn. Woad and Byrne repeatedly edged ahead but then found themselves behind for the first time when they bogeyed the 16th and 17th. Green then had a five-foot putt to win the match for the USA on the 18th, but it slipped by the edge of the hole and Woad was able to salvage a crucial half-point. The USA did claim a full point courtesy of Catherine Park and Zoe Campos, who won a high-quality contest against Patience Rhodes and Coulter. Park and Campos made seven birdies to GB&I’s six and closed out a 2&1 victory having led since the 3^rd. Yet Darling and Donegan ensured the morning ended with the teams level once again, the former holing a clutch putt on the final green to seal a one-hole win over Davis and Schofill. “I'm pretty pleased," said Darling, at the end of the day. "I’ve played well the last two days and just really happy to get three points on the board now. It's my third Curtis Cup so I kind of have a bit of experience to bring to it. “With the last two being losses for Great Britain and Ireland, I want this more than ever for the team. We have such a good time and a group of really, really good girls with a great captain and vice captains too. This is just for everyone and we want this really bad.”

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