Great Britain and Ireland Claim Curtis Cup Victory
Great Britain and Ireland triumphed in the Curtis Cup for the first time since 2016, clinching a thrilling 10½-9½ win over the United States at Sunningdale.
This marks the ninth victory for GB&I, led by Catriona Matthew, a two-time Solheim Cup-winning captain, in the 43rd edition of this prestigious amateur event.
The home team entered Sunday’s eight singles matches with a 7-5 lead but found themselves trailing in six of those contests at one point.
Nevertheless, Sara Byrne, Patience Rhodes, and Lorna McClymont secured wins, bringing GB&I to 10 points. However, they needed just one more to reclaim the trophy.
Mimi Rhodes stepped up, making par on the 17th hole to stay one up with just one hole to play. Although she lost the 18th, the halved match was sufficient to secure the victory.
Rhodes had been three down at the eighth tee but turned the tide by winning four of the next seven holes to take a one-hole lead.
Meanwhile, Lottie Woad, the world’s top amateur, faced her first defeat in five matches, losing 3&2 to 15-year-old American Asterisk Talley in the opening match.
Anna Davis, Jasmine Koo, and Rachel Kuehn also earned wins against Hannah Darling, Beth Coulter, and Aine Donegan, respectively.
“This is right up there with everything—the Solheim Cup wins [as captain] and my playing experience. I couldn’t be prouder,” stated Matthew, who also tasted victory in the Curtis Cup as a competitor.
“The future of women’s golf looks bright when you see both teams in action. It was a fantastic contest, and I love when matches are close. It’s what makes it exciting for the fans, and it feels wonderful to come out on top.”
What do you think about the future of women’s golf following this thrilling Curtis Cup match?
