Saturday 9 June 2012

GB & I cut USA lead on second day

Great Britain and Ireland have given themselves an outstanding chance of winning the Curtis Cup for the first time since Killarney in 1996.
Team captain Tegwen Matthews' squad of eight players took this afternoon four-balls programme by 2 1/2 to 1/2pt after losing the morning foursomes 2-1.
That means that the United States' lead has been cut to a single point - 6 1/2-5 1/2 -with only Sunday's eight singles to come.
The Americans have won the biennial contest for the last seven times and they had looked to be well on their way to yet another victory until the tide started to turn on Day 2 - miserably wet in the morning but perfect golf conditions in the afternoon.
All the GB and I players were stars in the afternoon heroics but a special mention to the two winning partnerships.
Holly Clyburn and Kelly Tidy won the lead-off four-ball by one hole with three-under-par figures against Amy Anderson - her first defeat in four matches - and Emily Tubert. 
Stephanie Meadow and Pamela Pretswell finished strongly to beat Erica Popson and Tiffany Lua by 2 and 1.
Pretswell played a career approach shot under pressure to grab a vital winning birdie at the 17th.
"I played a threequarters nine iron to about 2 to 2 1/2ft of the hole. But I have to confess that when I was standing over the putt it seemed to have stretched to twice that distance. I was glad to see the ball disappear into the hole," said Pamela."But what a great afternoon for all the GB and I team. We have come back from nowhere and we are all up for the Sunday singles."
Both winning GB and I partnerships had better-ball figures of three under par.
Lets not forget teenagers Leona Maguire and Bronte Law who halved with Brooke Pancake and Austin Ernst, two of America's top college players.
The attendance for the second day was 2,900, surprising in view of the bad weather in the morning which kept the early crowds down. But as the weather improved so the spectators made their way to the Nairn links.
It looks as if American captain Pat Cornett has loaded her "tail" with her best players - Lindy Duncan, Amy Anderson and Brooke Pancake.That might make it easier for GB and I to make up the deficit and establish a winning lead from the first five ties
Remember, the US as holders of the Curtis Cup need only to draw to retain the trophy. 10pt is the "magic number" for the Americans. They start the eight singles needing 3 1/2pt to reach that safety mark.
THE LINE-UP IS
GB and I names first
10.00 Kelly Tidy v Austin Ernst.
10.15 Amy Boulden v Emily Tubert
10.30 Holly Clyburn v Erica Popson.
10.45 Pamela Pretswell v Lisa McCloskey
11.00 Bronte Law v Tiffany Lua
11.15 Charley Hull v Lindy Duncan.
11.30 Stephanie Meadow v Amy Anderson.
11.45 Leona Maguire v Brooke Pancake

Report by Colin Farquarson