Leona Maguire admitted that she had texted Aine Donegan to “bring the cup back” and the Lahinch woman duly delivered alongside Sara Byrne and Beth Coulter as Great Britain and Ireland beat USA in Sunningale to win the Curtis Cup for the first time in eight years.
2016 in Dun Laoghaire was the last time the Curtis Cup rested on this side of the Atlantic, Maguire was one of three Irish girls on the team that year and she was thrilled to see the latest Irish crop do the business on a thrilling singles Sunday.
“There were obviously in very capable hands with Beany (Catriona Matthew) this week, they couldn’t possibly have asked for a better captain steer them back in the right direction,” smiled Maguire who will be hoping she can achieve team success at the Solheim Cup in a fortnight.
“I texted Aine the other day and told her the cup had been eight long years on the wrong side so to go and bring it back and she said she would. So fair play to them that they delivered.
“It was a very strong team and nice to see three Irish girls on that. It’s a big win for them and hopefully we can do the same in a couple of weeks’ time.”
Douglas star Sara Byrne was the hero for GB&I, as she bowed out of amateur golf in style. Byrne earned 3.5 points from a possible four including a convincing 3&2 win over Catherine Park in the singles.
Maguire is backing the 23-year-old to carry her form into the professional ranks having already come through a pre-qualifier for the LPGA Tour Q-School last week.
“She’s going to have a lot of people in her ear, I’m sure. Her game is obviously in very good shape, surround yourself with good people, I think. Hopefully she has a good team around her.
“I don’t know Sara very well but she’s come through the collegiate ranks and had a strong team surrounding her in Miami so she’ll have a little bit of replacing and replicating to do but as long as she surrounds herself with good people, she has a great attitude, I think she’ll be fine.”
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