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Great Britain and Ireland staged a brilliant last-day surge to win back the Curtis Cup at The Nairn Golf Club. They finished victors by 10 1/2pt to 9 1/2. Trailing by 1pt going into the final set of eighth singles, captain Tegwen Matthews’ team notched individual wins by Kelly Tidy, who was three down after six holes, Amy Boulden, Holly Clyburn, Charley Hull and the clincher from Stephanie Meadow.
The last time GB and I beat the Americans was at Killarney in 1996. The US were bidding to win the Curtis Cup for an eighth straight occasion in the biennial fixture. This is believed to be the first time since 1956 that the United States have lost a Curtis Cup match after leading into the final set of singles. The Ryder Cup, Walker Cup, Solheim Cup and now the Curtis Cup all now rest on this side of the Atlantic.
English amateur champion Kelly Tidy came back from three down after six to put the first point of final day on the board at around 1pm. The English champion’s 2 and 1 victory over Austin Ernst in the lead-off singles squared the match overall at 6 1/2pt each. GB and I’s overall points total rose to 8 1/2 with wins by Holly Clyburn (3 and 2 over Erica Popson) and Amy Boulden (3 and 1 over Emily Tubert).
The United States advanced their overnight points total of 6 1/2 by one with Lisa McCloskey beat Scotland’s Pamela Pretswell 4 and 3. Charley Hull played sub-par golf to beat Lindy Duncan 5 and 3 – GB and I now on 9 1/2pt to United States’ 7 1/2 The Americans’ total moved up to 8 1/2 with Brooke Pancake registering a 6 and 5 win over Leona Maguire in the eighth singles.
Stephanie Meadow produced the clinching point by beating Amy Anderson 4 and 2. Stephanie’s figures of four under par were the best of the day, surpassing Charley Hull’s earlier three-under-par effort. The Olympic Torch (unlit) was on the first tee. Perhaps it lit the flame of fighting spirit among Tegwen’s Troopers.
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