Day One of the Curtis Cup at Sunningdale was nothing short of a Hollywood script. Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) clawed their way back from an early deficit to level the scores at 3-3 with the United States, and it was as gripping as a last-second putt to win The Open.
From dramatic chip-ins to nail-biting finishes, the first day had everything you’d want from a premier amateur golf competition.
Under bright skies, with the air as electric as a Van de Graaff generator, Meghan Stasiโs American squad darted out to an early 2-1 lead after the morning foursomes.
But hold on to your haggis! Catriona Matthewโs GB&I team turned up the heat in the afternoon, winning the fourballs 2-1 and ensuring both teams head into Saturdayโs action deadlocked.
With more foursomes and fourball battles tomorrow, and eight singles matches looming like storm clouds on Sunday, GB&I is eyeing their first Curtis Cup win since 2016. And after today, it’s clear they have the fire in the belly to pull it off.
Catriona Matthew, Captain, Great Britain and Ireland โIโm absolutely delighted. At one point this morning it looked like we were going to be beaten three-nil but then we had a good comeback.
I know Lottie and Sara were a little disappointed with their finish but they’ve gone out there and won their point this afternoon.
โThe standard of golf has been pretty amazing. The Americans have made a lot of birdies, we’ve made a lot of birdies and it was exciting out there in the fourballs. It was nice to finish off those matches.
I can see in the team that their confidence is growing just from that finish there this afternoon.”
Afternoon Fourballs: A Battle of Birdies
The afternoon fourballs were as fiery as a habanero chili. The young American pair of Jasmine Koo and 15-year-old Asterisk Talley came out swinging, racking up nine birdies in a jaw-dropping 5&4 win over Mimi Rhodes and Lorna McClymont.
The American duo put their foot on the gas early, racing to a four-hole lead after six.
But donโt count out the Brits! Rhodes and McClymont cut the lead in half by the 8th.
Then, like a pair of seasoned pros, Koo and Talley birdied the 10th, 11th, 13th, and 14th to slam the door shut and put the USA up 3-1.
But the other two matches, my friends, were closer than a cheap suit. Hannah Darling and Aine Donegan showed more grit than a Texas highway, reeling off six birdies and an eagle on the par-5 2nd to squeak past Anna Davis and Megan Schofill by a single hole.
Schofill brought some fireworks of her own, holing out from a bunker on the 9th for an eagle, but it wasnโt quite enough to fend off the GB&I charge.
And then came the dayโs grand finaleโa match so thrilling it should come with a defibrillator.
Sara Byrne and Lottie Woad, the top-ranked amateur in the world, put on a show against Catherine Park and Zoe Campos.
With eight birdies on the board, they were as relentless as a Golden Retriever at dinnertime.
But the moment of the day? Byrne, from just off the green on the 17th, calmly chips in for birdie, and the gallery went bananas. With that, the GB&I pair snagged a crucial point to bring it all level.
Morning Foursomes: A Hot Start and a Wild Finish
The morning foursomes set the tone for a day that would be more unpredictable than a Mickelson tee shot.
The American duo of Melanie Green and Rachel Kuehn came out hotter than a two-dollar pistol, securing a 6&4 victory over the Rhodes sisters, Patience and Mimi.
With the Womenโs Amateur Champion Green and three-time Curtis Cup veteran Kuehn putting on a clinic, it was all over by the 14th hole. The Rhodes sisters had their chances, but the golf gods werenโt smiling on their putts.
Then came the next two matches, where the drama meter cranked up to 11. The Irish duo of Beth Coulter and Donegan fought tooth and nail to halve their match with Koo and Campos.
Both sides swapped leads like they were playing hot potato, but a critical win on the 18th secured a precious half-point for GB&I.
But the last morning match? Pure, unadulterated drama. Woad and Byrne found themselves three down after nine against Park and Talley, and it looked bleak.
But like a phoenix from the ashes, they won five of the next six holes, including a near ace from Woad on the 15th.
That ball stopped a mere foot from the hole! But waitโPark and Talley, not to be outdone, staged a comeback of their own, winning the final two holes to salvage a half-point and ensure a one-point lead for the USA going into the afternoon.
Whatโs Next: More Fireworks Await
As Day One of the Curtis Cup ends, itโs clear that neither team is willing to back down.
GB&I showed today that theyโve got the heart, the guts, and, crucially, the game to go toe-to-toe with the Americans.
With three more sets of matches tomorrow and singles on Sunday, itโs anyoneโs guess whoโll hoist the trophy.
But one thingโs for sure: if today was any indication, weโre in for a wild ride this weekend.
So, grab your popcorn and settle inโDay Two of the Curtis Cup promises more drama, more heroics, and maybe even more chip-ins to remember.
If youโre not already glued to this contest, you might need your pulse checked.
Tickets can be purchased for the Curtis Cup with walk up prices at the gate each day ยฃ25 for adults with 50% off for youths and free for under-16s.
View full scoring and tomorrow morningโs foursomes draw atย www.curtiscup.org
