Great Britain and Ireland came up narrowly short of a first away Curtis Cup win in 40 years, but only after an outstanding performance gave the United States of America a significant scare at Bel-Air Country Club.
For much of an absorbing final day in sun-soaked Los Angeles, the outcome of the contest was very much in the balance as Catriona Matthew’s side, 7-5 down overnight, fought valiantly and threatened to claim the five points they needed from eight singles contests.
At 5pm local time on Sunday, with little more than two hours of play remaining, the projected score was 10.5-9.5 to a star-studded USA side who were coming under enormous pressure having held a 6-3 lead after three sessions.
A number of tight matches turned in favour of the hosts thereafter, Meghan Stasi’s side ultimately winning six out of eight points on Sunday to prevail 13-7 and regain the Curtis Cup.
However, GB&I can be enormously proud of their overall display, which was led by the magnificent Patience Rhodes and Sophia Fullbrook.
The English pair won the top two singles matches on the 18th hole to finish with four points apiece for the week, Rhodes sensationally coming back from four down after seven holes to defeat Kelly Xu.
The only player to outscore Rhodes and Fullbrook was world number three Farah O’Keefe, who became only the fourth player in Curtis Cup history – after Stacy Lewis, Bronte Law and Kristin Gillman – to end the match with a perfect five wins from five.
O’Keefe’s singles match was a microcosm of the final day. She was two down through 12 holes against Charlotte Naughton, but O’Keefe fought back to win 2&1, her individual success fittingly guaranteeing victory for the USA.
“Obviously we’re disappointed,” said Matthew, who was bidding to achieve a fourth team triumph as Captain after Solheim Cup success with Europe in 2019 and 2021 and Curtis Cup glory in 2024 with GB&I. “You’re always disappointed when you lose. We came here with high hopes wanting to retain the cup that we won at Sunningdale two years ago. They fought their hardest. I’m very proud of them. They did their best. Each and every one of them battled out there in every single match, and that’s all you can do.”
The next Curtis Cup will take place in 2028 at Royal Dornoch in the Scottish Highlands, with the USA now leading the overall series 32-9-3.
It was no surprise to see visiting captain Matthew send out Rhodes and Fullbrook at the top of the order on Sunday, given the duo had combined for three of GB&I’s five victories across the first two days.
Rhodes got off to a dreadful start against Xu, who missed her graduation at Stanford University to play in this match and was given a special ceremony on the 10th tee earlier in the day.
GB&I’s highest-ranked player was four down through five and remained in that position after seven, only to then come charging back with wins at the 8th, 10th, 11th, 13th and 14th.
Xu refused to give in and showed her class with wonderful approaches to the 17th and 18th holes, but she could not convert her two birdie chances and Rhodes sealed a one up victory courtesy of a clutch 12-footer for par at the last.
As Rhodes completed her post-match interviews behind the final green, Fullbrook triumphed by the same margin thanks to a stunning approach to 18 that prompted Avery Weed to concede the birdie putt.
Yet there was heartbreak for GB&I in match three, as Nellie Ong suffered the opposite experience to Rhodes. Four up through 11 against Jasmine Koo, Ong was beaten on the 18th as the USA suddenly started to gain telling advantages in a host of matches that had been delicately poised.
World number one Kiara Romero celebrates edging out Isla McDonald-O’Brien
Asterisk Talley beat Davina Xanh 2&1 before world number one Kiara Romero emulated Fullbrook’s approach to 18 and finally edged out the defiant Isla McDonald-O’Brien one up.
That took the USA to ten points and they officially regained the Curtis Cup when O’Keefe completed her comeback against Naughton on the 17th.
The final action of the week saw Anna Davis beat Beth Coulter 4&3, before Kary Hollenbaugh secured her first Curtis Cup point with a one up victory over Lily Hirst, in the fifth singles match to come down the 18th.
“We were very aware that we were behind, but Catriona is lovely,” said Fullbrook. “She said, go out, have fun. We all know we play best when we have fun. So that’s what we tried to do today and battle back as hard as we could.”
“I just kept refreshing and refreshing my phone to follow the scores,” added Matthew. “I think just round about the turn, it looked like we were really going to do it. We were just pushing the right way, and then the momentum just started switching to the Americans on the back nine. I’m proud of all my players for their efforts this week.”
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