BBC SPORT | Golf | US retain Curtis Cup

The United States retained the Curtis Cup for the third consecutive time with an 11-7 victory over Great Britain and Ireland.

The US went into the second and final day with a 7-2 lead and, despite losing two of the three foursomes to the visitors, ran out comfortable winners in Pittsburgh.

Despite the defeat Great Britain and Ireland captain Pam Benka spoke of the pride she felt towards her team.

This ranks right up there as perhaps my greatest Curtis Cup experience

Carol Semple Thompson

"I cannot speak too highly of my kids. I am really proud of the way they battled," she said.

"Indeed, if the clock had been stopped at one time this afternoon we would have actually made it. We were up in virtually everything and all-square in one.

"We certainly had our moments and it was a tremendous game."

Appropriately it was the remarkable 53-year-old Carol Semple Thompson, playing in her 12th Curtis Cup match, who got the point that guaranteed the States retained the trophy.

She did it in style, holing a putt of 30 feet across the 18th green to beat 21-year-old Scot Vikki Laing by one hole.

Saturday's Curtis Cup report

Laing had in fact been three ahead after seven but then suffered a disastrous run when she collected three bogeys and a double to go from three up to one down.

That victory by Thompson, a former British Ladies Amateur champion, gave USA the nine points they needed to retain the trophy.

Emma Duggleby (left) and Alison Coffey of Great Britain and Ireland
GB and Ireland were unable to overturn Saturday's deficit

"This ranks right up there as perhaps my greatest Curtis Cup experience," said Thompson, who has played in 12 Curtis Cups. "I cannot imagine a better script."

American skipper Mary Budke paid tribute to Thompson, but said that she did fear early in the afternoon that her side might be caught.

"It was obviously much closer than had been expected after the first day," she admitted.

Earlier Rebecca Hudson, the reigning British Open Champion, had come back from being two down early on to beat Mollie Fankhauser three and one and give the visitors some hope.

Her Yorkshire compatriot Emma Duggleby was also in great form as she overcame Leigh Anne Hardin by four and three at the end of 15 holes.

Outright win

Heather Stirling, the reigning Scottish Champion, started brilliantly against Laura Meyerscough, winning the first three holes, but she collapsed on the homeward half.

Five up at the turn, she preceded to lose a succession of holes and finally went down on the home green.

Ireland's Alison Coffey was one up early on against Meredith Duncan but she too slipped to a three and one defeat.

Stirling and Coffey's defeats saw the USA win the trophy outright.

At the bottom of the order, the hugely talented Welsh teenager Sarah Jones, the youngest member of the side, swept to a brilliant five and three success against Courtney Swaim.


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