BBC SPORT | Golf | US dominate in Pittsburgh

The United States left Great Britain and Ireland facing a massive task if they are to regain the Curtis Cup, the transatlantic match for women amateurs.

GB & I lost all three foursomes and went down in the singles by four matches to two, resulting in a first-day deficit of 7-2.

But captain Pam Benka remained upbeat.

She said: "My team played its heart out and the captain cannot ask for more.

"But they know they can score better and play better and they are determined to go out in the foursomes and make a bold bid at winning them all to maintain interest in the match."

There were big defeats for Rebecca Hudson and Emma Duggleby and Kerry Smith and Alison Coffey.

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Heather Stirling and Vikki Laing battled bravely against Mollie Fankhauser and veteran Carol Semple-Thompson but could not prevent the Americans from taking a 3-0 lead.

Despite the setback, the visitors made an excellent start to the afternoon singles.

Reigning ladies British Open amateur champion Hudson held on to a five-hole lead against Emily Bastel to secure the team's first point of the tournament.

Duggleby then battled valiantly against Leigh Anne Harding, eventually going down by two-and-one.

Fame More's poor form this season continued as she slumped to a five-and-four defeat to Meredith Duncan.

It's good to win the first match because then you have confidence for the next two

Meredith Duncan

Debut-making Welsh teenager Sarah Jones, the youngest member of the Great Britain & Ireland team, was taught a lesson by Angela German and crashed to a six-and-five reverse.

Jones, the 19-year-old former Welsh Girls champion from the Pennard Club on Gower, was well below her best and had two double bogeys in the first 12 holes.

Stirling fell behind at the opening hole when she dropped a stroke and was always forced to play catch-up against Courtney Swaime and in the end lost by four-and-two.

GB & I's second point came from Laing, but she had to stave off a late rally by Fankhauser to secure the important victory.

But the USA now only need two of the nine points at stake on the second day to retain the trophy.

In the first match of the day, 2001 US women's amateur champion Duncan and Angela Jerman gave the home team a strong start.

They outclassed Britain and Ireland's most experienced pair of Hudson and Duggleby four and three.

Vikki Laing earned Britain and Ireland's second point

"It's good to win the first match because then you have confidence for the next two," said Duncan.

Courtney Swaim and Laura Myerscough won the second point for the US with a three-and-two triumph over Smith and Coffey.

Three foursomes matches, where team partners take alternate shots, and six singles matches will be played on each of the two days of competition.

The Curtis Cup, first held in 1932, is staged every two years. The United States lead the series with an overall record of 22 wins, six defeats and three ties.


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