Kenney left in shock as she misses the cut for Curtis Cup

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By Martin Dempster
While there was delight for two Scots as Sally Watson and Pamela Pretswell were named in the Great Britain & Ireland team, Louise Kenney admitted she was "shocked" not to have even been included among the four reserves for this year's Curtis Cup clash in America.
Watson, who is coming to the end of her freshman year at Stanford University in California, where Tiger Woods completed his education before turning professional, is the only survivor in captain Mary McKenna's team from the match over the Old Course at St Andrews two years ago. The 18-year-old, who lives in South Queensferry and is a member of Elie & Earlsferry Ladies' Golf Club, has just been named in the All-Pac-10 women's second team, having had a win and three other top-ten finishes on the US women's college circuit.
Watson led the Stanford team in stroke average and always looked a good bet to make the eight-strong GB&I line-up again despite missing the Helen Holm Scottish Open Stroke Play Championship at the weekend due to college commitments.
Kenney, who topped the Scottish Order of Merit last year and didn't finish outside the top ten in doing so, produced the strongest performance of three Scots in the field at Troon who were on the Curtis Cup short leet, yet her third-place finish appears to have been totally discounted by the selectors.
Instead, they've gone for Pretswell, who, by contrast, produced a poor performance in Ayrshire. In her junior honours year at Glasgow University, Pretswell, who will be 21 by the time the match comes around – it is being played Essex County Club at Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts from 11-13 June – has played little competitive golf since last year's Women's Home Internationals at Irvine Bogside.
However, the selectors would appear to have been swayed by an impressive performance she produced to win the 2008 Swiss Women's Open Amateur Championship, the Bothwell Castle player coming from 11 shots behind on the final day to claim that title.
Nairn Dunbar's Kelsey MacDonald, who was in the GB&I training squad along with Kenney, Pretswell and Watson, has been named as the first reserve, leaving Kenney wondering exactly what she has done wrong to have been totally overlooked.
"I am shocked, to be honest," said the 27-year-old from Pitreavie. "I don't think I was being silly in thinking I had a chance of making the team and it is utter disbelief that I've not even made one of the four reserve spots. I've had so many texts from people saying how sorry they am for me and I'll just have to go out there and do what I did last year to try and prove the selectors wrong."
As expected, the 15-year-old Macguire twins, Leona and Lisa, have been included in the team, the Slieve Russell players having rubber-stamped their potential when they set an age record by making the GB&I team at the age of 14 in last year's Vagliano Trophy match against Europe.
They will now become the youngest GB&I representatives to play in a Curtis Cup, taking that record away from Scotland's Carly Booth, who had her 16th birthday just after the 2008 Curtis Cup match.
Completing a strong Irish contingent is Danielle McVeigh, the impressive Helen Holm winner, while England provides the three other members of the side, namely Hannah Barwood, Holly Clyburn and Rachel Jennings.
"It is a very good mix of experience and youth," said McKenna, who played in nine Curtis Cup matches between 1970 and 1986 and, in terms of winning individual and foursomes ties, is the most successful GB&I player in Curtis Cup history.
"They have all played overseas on in America at some time, so that's a big plus factor as well."

Now it's official ...

THREE USGA CHAMPIONS HIGHLIGHT

2010 USA CURTIS CUP TEAM

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION
Far Hills, New Jersey – Three United States Golf Association champions headline the eight-woman amateur team selected by the Association to represent the United States of America at the 2010 Curtis Cup Match, which will be played June 11-13 at Essex County Club in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass.
Jennifer Song, 20, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, became the second female in history to win two USGA titles in the same year when she claimed the U.S. Women’s Amateur and U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links in 2009.
Alexis Thompson, 15, of Coral Springs, Fla., won the 2008 U.S. Girls’ Junior and is the youngest player in history to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open, which she did in 2007 at age 12.
Kimberly Kim, 18, of Pahoa, Hawaii, who won the 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur at age 14 to become the youngest winner in the championship’s history, was named to her second consecutive Curtis Cup Team. She is the only player on the 2010 USA Team to have played in the Match previously.
That trio will be joined by Cydney Clanton, 20, of Concord, N.C.; Jennifer Johnson, 18, of La Quinta, Calif.; Stephanie Kono, 20, of Honolulu, Hawaii; Jessica Korda, 17, of Bradenton, Fla.; and Tiffany Lua, 19, of Rowland Heights, Calif.
The alternates for the 2010 USA Team, in order of ranking, are: Candace Schepperle, 21, of Birmingham, Ala.; and Sydnee Michaels, 21, of Temecula, Calif.
The Curtis Cup Match, contested biennially, features eight female amateurs from Great Britain and Ireland and eight players who represent the USA. The Match consists of three foursomes (alternate-shot) and three four-ball (better-ball) matches on the first two days. On the final day, all eight players from each side play in singles matches.
The 2010 USA Team will be captained by Noreen Mohler of Bethlehem, Pa., who was a member of the USA’s victorious 1978 Curtis Cup team.
The USA Team has won the last six Curtis Cup Matches and leads the series, which began in 1932, by a 26-6-3 margin.

US select young team for

-

Curtis Cup match in June
-

FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE
By Golfweek Staff
The U.S. Golf Association has finalised the 2010 Curtis Cup team, Golfweek has learned. The committee began informing players earlier this week and, as expected, has picked a young team. (University of Denver) freshman Kimberly Kim is the only remaining member of the victorious 2008 squad in Scotland.
Jennifer Song, the 2009 U.S. Women’s Amateur and WAPL champion, and 15-year-old Alexis Thompson (pictured) hope to end their amateur careers with a win at Essex County Club against Great Britain & Ireland on June 11-13.

The rest of the team:

UCLA's Stephanie Kono and Tiffany Lua.

Auburn’s Cydney Clanton.

Arizona State’s Jennifer Johnson and 17-year-old Jessica Korda.
It will come as a surprise to many that Auburn senior Candace Schepperle is chosen only as first alternate. Schepperle made the cut at the last year’s U.S. Women’s Open and won the 2009 Dixie Amateur and Harder Hall Invitationals. She also was the 2009 Southeastern Conference Golfer of the Year. She’s No. 37 in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings.

+The GB&I team, to be captained by Mary McKenna, will be announced near the end of April.

Wealthy Massachusetts sisters helped the poor and needy

There was much, much more

to Harriot and Margaret, than

just the Curtis Cup ....

FROM THE UNITED STATES GOLF
ASSOCIATION WEBSITE
By David Shefter
If Harriot and Margaret Curtis were alive today, the sisters likely would have been among the first responders in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, or quickly jumped on a plane to aid victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti.
While the two Massachusetts natives (pictured) were best known for their exploits on the golf course, combining to win four US Women’s Amateur titles and donating the trophy for the biennial Curtis Cup Match, they were most proud of their charitable efforts within New England and abroad.
Born into a wealthy New England family, Harriot and Margaret developed a sense of helping the less fortunate from an early age. They continued the effort much of the rest of their lives; Margaret died in 1965 at the age of 82, and Harriot died nine years later at 93.
In 1909, the pair co-founded the Maverick Dispensary, an East Boston health clinic for Italian Americans. The organisation served 2,000 patients in its first year and by the 1930s, that figure had grown to 40,000 patient visits annually. The staff included dentists, an eye specialist, internists and other medical personnel. Fees were covered through private donations spearheaded by the Curtis sisters.
Upon the outbreak of World War I, Harriot was appointed director of the Associated Charities in Boston, and she worked at the Center for French Wounded and the Home Service Division of Civilian Relief.
Following the war, she became the dean of women at Hampton Institute, a college for African-American students in Richmond, Virginia, from 1927-31. Margaret was among the first graduates of the Simmons College School of Social Work in 1904.
By 1916, she was headed to Paris to assist with World War I relief in France, where she would receive the Medaille de Guerre from the French Red Cross (1919) and the Medaille de la Reconnaissance Francaise from the French government (1920) for her benevolence.
The charitable exploits of the sisters can be charted through material at the USGA Museum (at Far Hills, New Jersey) and the Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History. Margaret wrote many letters back to the U.S. about her experiences in Europe during World War I.
All of this came after she won three US Women’s Amateur titles, in 1907 (when she defeated Harriot in the final), 1911 and 1912. The two honed their golf skills at Essex County Club in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, where this year’s Curtis Cup Match will be played June 11-13. At first, French agencies were sceptical of American volunteers such as Margaret Curtis, mainly because of the language barrier. Margaret was acutely aware of this gap and took French lessons twice a week.
While the United States would not fully enter the conflict until 1917, a full year after Margaret’s arrival in Paris, the younger Curtis sister helped build goodwill in France ahead of the arrival of the American Red Cross.
That first year in Paris, Margaret worked hard to learn the practices of her boss, Mrs. Shurtleff, the head of the Student Atelier Association, an affiliate of the Red Cross. One of her initial tasks was to create a format for information cards that would serve as case records for an individual client or family.
“I took my face card up to Mrs. Shurtleff this morning,” wrote Margaret. “She rather laughed at its elaborateness, but said if I wanted it, and as I had agreed to stand all expenses and leave it so that anyone else could use the system, I was welcome to go ahead… I am trying hard to go slowly and keep from forming opinions too soon. I like Mrs. Shurtleff very much and I think her judgment seems very good… naturally, I don’t even know that much…”
As the workload increased, Margaret found less time to write home with news, despite the urging of family members to continue the correspondence. “Most of our time is spent investigating and visiting the new families which come in at the rate of about three a day,” Margaret wrote. “We try to draw the line at ‘Paris poor’ but where there’s a problem of sickness or acute misery due to war, we do plunge a bit. Alice (Sturgis) has taken over the ouvrier, which means quite a lot of work. One morning a week she gives out work and pays for what they bring; but besides that she has to see to having things cut out and decide what’s best to be made out of the quaint things that are sent, such as little boys’ pants out of a lady’s riding habit skirt.” Margaret took a two-month summer respite at home in Massachusetts before returning to Paris after Mrs. Shurtleff pleaded for her to return. France suffered under typical war-time conditions. Stores were ordered closed by 6 p.m., and half the lights were extinguished in the subway stations, coal being a precious commodity. Female street-car conductors and subway ticket takers were noticeably tense.
Many hotels served as hospitals, and young French girls were forbidden to leave their homes without an older companion. Once the U.S. declared war on Germany in the spring of 1917, the emotional climate changed, and Margaret expressed those feelings in a letter.
“I feel sort of blown up with news and excitement,” she wrote, “but I suppose once I try to put it on paper it’ll evaporate. It really is a wonderful sensation to be here these days…The next day all the French people were in a state of exaltation, but the second day there seemed to be more sadness at the idea of another big country being plunged in, than unmixed joy.”
Once the American Red Cross arrived in France in June 1917, the plan was to absorb the various relief organisations that were already in operation in Paris. Many of these agencies had been in place since the outbreak of war in 1914, while the Red Cross didn’t have much experience in the work going on in Paris.
Compromises were eventually made and departments were created within the Red Cross. Margaret’s concerns for better co-ordination were recognized, and the Red Cross gave her vast responsibilities for the merging of these relief agencies. She was appointed assistant to the chief of refugee affairs in Paris, and soon became the chef du bureau.
While the Battle of the Marne raged in 1918 just 30 miles from Paris, Margaret directed operations to handle the huge influx of refugees into the city. Her sister Elinor wrote, “We are all puffed up over your importance and competence.”
Harriot’s correspondence wasn’t so flattering. “Goodness, Petty (nickname), are you that fat? All your friends on first sight of you are overcome. I’d hate to tell you what they say and write. For pity’s sake, do you never take a step of exercise? ... Ma gives out that you are the most important person in Paris…says ‘She is a very intelligent girl.’ Ho Ho Ho.”
A year later, Margaret wrote to her family updating the situation in Paris. The agency had turned 24 houses into “logements” for about 750 families. When she had returned home that summer, a Red Cross captain wrote to Margaret about her successes. “The housing scheme of yours has proved a splendid success,” he wrote. “All the houses are still packed full. The rents have been paid very regularly and I have already collected over 100,000 francs from the various French organizations.”
After the war ended, Margaret remained active in relief efforts throughout Europe. While refugees were no longer streaming into Paris, uprooted villagers returned home to find their dwellings turned to rubble, with nothing to eat because gardens had turned to wasteland.
In the spring of 1919, she travelled through the countryside setting up small warehouses that served as distribution centers. Two years later, Margaret joined the active service of the Society of Friends in establishing health clinics in Austria, Poland and Czechoslovakia.
“Warsaw is quite a big showy city,” Margaret wrote of the Polish capital. “The streets are crowded with people – most of them extraordinarily well shod, but there are slews of beggars, particularly around church doors.
“We visited the Headquarters of the Russian Red Cross, and it was a nightmare. Horribly jammed in an ouvrier, a squalid restaurant for “Intelligentsia” and an awful canteen for kids – eight women were squashed into a coal hole, paring potatoes; three were teachers, and awful looking wrecks…blue hands everywhere, and to cap the climax, an old lady had gone crazy and was clutching our arms, begging rags.
"The Poles hate ’em – and they can’t go back to Russia, even if they could live there, once they crossed the border.”
War still raged in the Balkans and Asia Minor. In 1920, tensions flared between Greece and Turkey, the latter battling to regain territory lost through postwar treaties. In Athens, relief agencies were created and Margaret helped the Disaster Relief Commission try to meet the needs of thousands in exodus from Asia Minor.
Margaret stayed in Greece until 1923 when, told of her mother’s death, she returned home. Margaret continued her charitable duties during the years of World War II. She was a member of the War Production Board from 1942-45 and was also in charge of placing European children into Massachusetts homes.
Many of these were English children, sent to the United States by parents who feared for their safety in the continuous bombing of London. Margaret took an interest in a mother and her four children, settling them on the Curtis’ Manchester estate. Margaret’s kindness was remembered by Elaine Campbell-Jones, who continued to send Christmas cards from Bath, England, long after the war concluded.
Margaret and Harriot Curtis will be remembered for their collection of hard-won national golf titles and their founding of the Curtis Cup, but their service to the poor, the wounded and the oppressed prove that they were champions off the course as well.
*David Shefter is a USGA communications staff writer. E-mail him with questions or comments at dshefter@usga.org.

.

-->

Kelsey does not want to wait another

two years for Curtis Cup team place

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Kelsey MacDonald gets rather annoyed when people link her with the 2012 Curtis Cup which will be played in her home town of Nairn.
The Scottish Under-21 champion for the past two years wants people - particularly the GB&I selectors - to think of her as a serious contender for a place in THIS YEAR'S Curtis Cup match at Essex County Club, Boston in June.
Kelsey, currently playing in the Hacienda del Alamo Festival in south-east Spain, wrote in an E-mail this week:
"My dream right now is to play in America for the Curtis Cup ... this year!!
"When I was a young girl I had a big dream to play the Curtis Cup when the announced venue for 2012 was Nairn. Obvouisly I stilll want to play in 2012. It is also the year I hope to finish at the University of Stirling and hopefully be preparing to turn pro.
"Of course that is still my aim but I feel very prepared to compete this year. I am not out here at Hacienda del Alamo for the fun. I am out here to prove that I am worthy candidate for a place in the GB&I Curtis Cup team of eight.
"I just feel that every time you mention Nairn, me and the 2012 Curtis Cup, you are saying to the selectors - 'We can leave Kelsey out this time - she wants to play at Nairn!'
"I was absolutely gutted last year not getting a place in the GB&I team for the Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent. On the Orange Blossom Tour, I had been third in the South Atlantic Ladies championship (the Sally), runner-up in the Jones/Doherty, runner-up in the Helen Holm Trophy, fourth in the St Rule - made the cut at the British, to be beaten by Caroline Masson, who won the German match-play championship in 2008 and won the 2008 Spanish amateur championship and represented Europe at both the 2005 and 2007 Junior Solheim Cup and also a Vagliano Trophy player for the Continent.
"So not sure what I would have had to have done to get in the GB&I team last year. I am taking part in all events possible to give me the best chance of selection this Curtis Cup year, so please do not dismiss me, thinking I will be happy waiting another two years AS I WILL NOT!"
Kelsey, only too glad to put the record straight on your behalf.
I don't think the selectors pay any attention to what I write! They will certainly look at the tournament results on Kirkwoodgolf.co.uk and they carry a lot more weight than my words.

The "Yorkshire Team," Sue Johnson on extreme left, who will be making the journey to the Curtis Cup match at Essex County Club, Boston, Massachusetts in June (image by courtesy of Susan Simpson).

Want to go to the Curtis Cup Match? Let the LGU's Travel Agent

handle your travel and accommodation arrangements

From Susan Simpson, the Ladies Golf Union's Head of Golf Operations
I have had lots of inquiries about travel and accommodation for the Curtis Cup Match at Essex County Club, near Boston, Massachusets from June 11 to 13.
If would be grateful if Kirkwoodgolf.co.uk could let everyone know that travel and accommodation to the match will be handled by the LGU’s Travel Agent.
We hope that many will make the journey to this special venue, home of the Curtis sisters.
A draft programme of events has been posted on the LGU website and further information about how to book the official hotel and flights via our travel agent will be sent out and published online in early February.
Accommodation has been block booked, so there is no urgency, unless you wish to “do your own thing.” If you wish to join the Official GB & I party then please let us know by Email at curtiscup@lgu.org and we will keep in touch.

Thanks,

Susan Simpson
Head of Golf Operations
The Ladies' Golf Union
St Andrews, KY16 9AT
Tel 01334 475811 Fax 01334 472818
www.lgu.org

Michele Thomson says

Thanks for the

memories to the Curtis

Cup spectators

Scottish champion Michele Thomson has asked if Kirkwoodgolf could pass on her personal thanks to the Curtis Cup galleries.

Michele's message:

I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who was at St Andrews, all of those who braved the cold wind and rain on Sunday to cheer me and the rest of the team on.

Walking up that 18th fairway to the roar and cheers of the home support was something I will never ever forget. It was simply an amazing experience.

There was so many faces in the crowd I wanted to go round and thank them all personally as it meant so much. If I start writing thank you letters now I will still be at it at the end of the season.
Of my own match I was really caught up in the heat of the moment. I wanted so much to hole that putt on 18 to win but after I missed, I was thinking of my opponent, Jennie Lee, and how much courage it took to hole the 4ft putt she had for a half.

On reflection, and since the match was over (overall), I am glad she holed out as she did not deserve to lose either as she played great and was a real sport all the way round..
It was a deserved victory for the USA team. They played great all week and we always seemed to be playing catch up but credit to all my team mates, Mary, Lawrence and all the management team as we never gave up and we all gave it our best.

If the last three days have encouraged even a small percentage of girls to take up golf, and I hope it has, then we will have an even greater chance in the future of regaining the Curtis Cup.

I can recommend a good coach if anyone is interested!!
Thanks once again to everyone.

Michele Thomson

Sally Watson knee op will rule her out until autumn

Note from Colin Farquharson: In the following excerpt from the last Curtis Cup interviews in the Media Centre at the Old Course on Sunday, Sally Watson revealed that she is to have a knee operation this week, which will rule out her out of golf until the autumn.
Sally has already been named in the Scotland squad for the European girls' team championship at Murcar Links from July 8 to 12.
Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) is the first reserve.

Turning pro not on the immediate
horizon for Sally and Krystle

Q: And the girls, do you see yourselves being on the team in two years?
SALLY WATSON: Well, I'm still going to be amateur, so hopefully my game will continue to improve over the next two years. I think now that I have been on a Curtis Cup team and I have lost, it's just going to be wanting revenge even more, wanting to win even more.
Hopefully having that little bit more experience in the Curtis Cup and knowing a little bit more about what to expect, and hopefully we can all play well next time and come out on top.
But I think having this experience has really helped my game and has helped just develop me as a golfer, and I think everyone would just kind of thank the LGU for giving us this opportunity, because it is really a once in a lifetime opportunity.
KRYSTLE CAITHNESS: Yeah, I'm going to stay amateur, also, and I hope to make the team in two years' time. Curtis Cup is the biggest team match you'll play. It's such an honour to represent Great Britain and Ireland, and I hope I'm in contention for that selection.
Q. Mary, are you staying on as captain?
MARY McKENNA: I have to wait until I'm asked. My contract or whatever you want to call it was for Vagliano Trophyand for Curtis Cup, so I obviously don't know.
Q. If you are asked, would you stay on?
MARY McKENNA: I don't know.
Q. Can Sal;ly tell us about your knee problem and what happens next with that? Was there any point where you were a doubt fitness?wise to play this week?
SALLY WATSON: About two months ago now, I had a slight hiccup, and I actually had to go in for an arthroscopy because I couldn't straighten my knee, and if I would have had the surgery I wouldn't have been able to play (in the Curtis Cup).
But with the help of the Scottish Institute of Sport, I was able to come home from America straight away, and I got that dealt with.
I worked really hard over the next two months, really, six weeks, to get myself prepared because I knew that if I didn't work hard then I wasn't going to be able to go and play.
I'm actually going to have knee surgery this month, just because I feel like it's just getting to the point where my knee, it's a bit of unreliability, and I don't want to get into a situation later in life where I'm playing in a big tournament and my knee just kind of gives way and then I have to pull out.
As I get older and every year that passes, the tournaments do get bigger and bigger and more important for me, so I'm going to get the knee surgery done now rather than later, and then I have one more year in Florida (student at David Leadbetter Golf Academy) and hopefully I can just make the most of that year.
I'll be able to work even harder than I have in the past two years and hopefully come out next summer and just play the best I can.
This experience, though, it's just ?? it's the pinnacle of amateur golf. I was going to try and do everything I could to play, and I'm just glad that I did play and I had that experience. It is a week and it is a tournament which I will remember forever.
Q. Which knee is it?
SALLY WATSON: It's my right knee, my cruciate ligament. I used to play basketball. I played for under?16 Scotland basketball when I was 12. I came back ?? I lived in California for three years, and basketball was what I wanted to do with my life. Unfortunately God had other plans for me. I injured my knee and I couldn't get to the same level.
But if it hadn't have been for that injury, I probably wouldn't be in this Curtis Cup and in this position right now, so I'm kind of glad it did happen.
Q. When are you actually going to get the surgery?
SALLY WATSON: On Wednesday.
Press Officer STEWART McDOUGALL: Mary, Sally and Krystle, thank you very much.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

Pictured are GB&I's top two points-earners, Krystle Caithness and Sally Watson (image by
Cal Carson Golf Agency, all rights reserved).

35th CURTIS CUP
INDIVIDUAL RECORDS

GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND

(Code: P=number of ties played; W=ties won; L=ties lost; H=ties halved; P+points gained).

KRYSTLE CAITHNESS:
P3-W3-L0-H0-Pts 3.

SALLY WATSON:
P5-W3-L2-H0-Pts 3.

MICHELE THOMSON:
P4-W1-L2-H1-Pts 1.5.

BREANNE LOUCKS: P4-W1-L3-H0-Pts 1.

CARLY BOOTH: P4-W1-L3-H0-Pts 1.

FLORENTYNA PARKER: P4-W1-L3-H0-Pts 1.

JODI EWART: P3-W0-L2-H1-Pts 0.5.

LIZ BENNETT: P5-W0-L4-H1-Pts 0.5.

UNITED STATES

STACY LEWIS: P5-W5-L0-H0-Pts 5.

ALISON WALSHE: P4-W4-L0-H0-Pts 4.

AMANDA BLUMENHERST: P5-W3-L1-H1-Pts 3.5.

KIMBERLY KIM: P4-W3-L1-H0-Pts 3.

TIFFANY JOH: P4-W2-L1-H1-Pts 2.5.

MINA HARIGAE: P4-W2-L1-H0-Pts 2.

JENNIE LEE: P3-W0-L2-H1p-Pts 0.5.

MEGHAN BOLGER: P3-W0-L3-H0-Pts 0.

CAPTAINS DON’T WANT UNITED
STATES v EUROPE CURTIS CUP

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
United States won the biennial Curtis Cup women’s amateur international contest for the sixth time in a row over the Old Course, St Andrews on Sunday.
But neither of the team captains, Mary McKenna abd Carol Semple Thompson, wants a Ryder Cup-style change to make it a USA v Europe contest.
It is acknowledged by most students of the game that the majority of the leading female amateur golfers in Europe at the moment are from Continent.

In last year’s Vagliano Trophy match at St Andrews Bay, the Continentals beat GB&I by a record margin. In the recent NCAA Division 1 women's college championship in America, something like six of the top 10 finishers were Continental Europeans.

Some pundits see the Curtis Cup at the same one-sided stage as the Ryder Cup was a decade or two before it became a Europe, not a GB&I team that took on the States.

I have to admit that I am on the side of those who would like to see Continentals of the world-class quality of Carlota Ciganda (Spain), pictured above, and Anna Nordqvist (Sweden) - who contested last year's BRITISH women's open amateur championship at Leeds - playing in the Curtis Cup and making a 13-7 margin of victory for the United States less likely in future.

But the team captains of this past week's Curtis Cup contest would certainly not like to see its format follow the Ryder Cup line.
“I don’t think a Europe v United States Curtis Cup match would have the same impact. It’s very important that we keep it the way it is, especially for GB&I because it gives the girls something to focus on, something to strive for selection to,” said Mary McKenna.
“The Curtis Cup is a stepping stone for the future. It is difficult to be selected for the GB&I team. So personally I would hope it would never change.”
Carol Semple Thompson, who has played or been team captain in more Curtis Cup matches than any other player on both sides of the Atlantic, said:
“I like the tradition of playing against Great Britain & Ireland. I can understand they might be a little frustrated at this point since the States have now won six matches in a row but even though I think our level of play was fantastic, all the games over the last three days have been well-fought.
“There’s plenty of talent on both sides to make it a good match. So I would definitely cast my vote on the status quo.”

Perhaps the European Golf Association should take the lead and make a direct approach to the United States Golf Association to introduce a United States v Europe or Continental Europe match in alternate years to the Curtis Cup.

OK, so that would mean a rival for the Vagliano Trophy in the same year. But that would be a minor problem, surely.

United States team captain Carol Semple Thompson and her team with the Curtis Cup after their 13-7 victory over the Old Course, St Andrews on Sunday.

Mary McKenna with her GB&I team after the end of the Curtis Cup match on Sunday.

United States Curtis Cup captain Carol Semple Thompson (left) with her most successful players Alison Walshe (centre) and Stacy Lewis in the Media Centre at the post-match interviews (Cal Carson Golf Agency images, all rights reserved).

GB&I skipper Mary McKenna with her two most successful players, Sally Watson (left) and Krystle Caithness at the post-Curtis Cup interviews in the Media Centre (Cal Carson Golf Agency image, all rights reserved).

UNITED STATES CLINCH 26th
CURTIS CUP TRIUMPH

United States won the 35th Curtis Cup competition for the 26th time in
the history of the biennial transatlantic women's amateur golf
international contest.
In a historic match – the first to be staged over the Old Course, St
Andrews and the first to be played over three days – the Americans
triumphed easily in the end by a 13 points to seven margin.
Skipper Carol Semple Thompson's team started the final day with a
three-point lead (7 ½-4 1/2) with the home captain Mary McKenna still
cherishing hopes that the Great Britain & Ireland team, which had been
hanging on to the Americans' coat-tails over the first two days, would
come good in the eight singles climax to the match.
After two warm almost summer-like days, the Sunday weather certainly
turned in favour of the home team … much colder, windier and
occasionally wet.
But the writing was soon on the scoreboard, if not on the wall, for
hopes of a seven Great Britain & Ireland victory in the series which
began at Wentworth in 1932.
The Brits were soon trailing in the top four singles and things did not
get much better although, to be fair, the home tail did wag with wins
by Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) by 6 and 4 over Meghan Bolger and
by home-course girl Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) by 2 and 1 over Mina
Harigae.
And Scottish champion Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) gained a
creditable half with Jennie Lee.
Another Scot, Sally Watson (Elie & Earslferry), came back from two down
against Irish-born Alison Walshe in the final singles to be all square
with five holes to play. But she lost the 16th and went down by one
hole.
Watson, only 16, and 19-year-old Caithness were the top points
producers for Great Britain with three points each. Watson played in
every session of play while Caithness, home for the summer from Georgia
University, and playing over her home course, won all three ties in
which she was played.
For the Americans, Stacy Lewis was the MVP with five wins out of five.
Galway-born Alison Walshe, whose family emigrated to Boston when she
was a youngster, was the second most successful player in the American
squad she won all four of her ties.
Carly Booth (Comrie), at 15 the youngest GB&I player ever to be chosen
for a Curtis Cup match – this was the youngest-ever GB&I team, had a
nightmare last day. She went down by 6 and 5 to Tiffany Joh despite
winning the first two holes.
"I just couldn't buy a putt of any length today," said Carly. "But I
have great memories from my first Curtis Cup and I'm sure there will be
more."
Breanne Loucks (Wrexham), winner of all three of her Curtis Cup ties at
Bandon Dunes two years ago, could win only one of four outings over the
Old Course. Given the honour of playing in the lead-off singles tie,
the Welsh girl lost by 3 and 1 to former US amateur champion, and still
only 16, Kimberly Kim from Hawaii.
Jodi Ewart (Catterick), who plays on the US college circuit as a
student at Texas A&M University, was drawn to play the top-ranked
American player, Amanda Blumenherst and did well to take her to the
17th green before going down 2 and 1.
Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor), at 25 the oldest player in the home
team, went down by 3 and 2 to Stacy Lewis, the No 2 ranked US college
player, by 3 and 2.
The Sunday attendance was 4,800, not a bad figure considering the
inclement weather, which gave a three-day total of 13,600.

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CURTIS CUP SUNDAY UPDATE

UNITED STATES HEADING FOR CURTIS CUP
VICTORY AS GB&I RESISTANCE CRUMBLES

The United States were heading for their 26th Curtis Cup victory in
cold, damp and windy conditions for the third and final day of the
women's biennial amateur international golf contest over the Old
Course, St Andrews.
GB&I have not won a Curtis Cup match since Killarney in 1996.
The United States started the final day in this the first-ever
three-day programme with a 3pt lead (7 1/2-4 1/2).
They soon took command of most of the eight closing singles ties.
Carly Booth, the 15 year old from Comrie, Perthshire was the first home
player to be counted out. She crashed by 6 and 5 to Tiffany Joh.
Then former Welsh champion Breanne Loucks from Wrexham, winner of her
three Curtis Cup ties two years ago at Bandon Dunes, was beaten 3 and 1
in the lead-off singles by Kimberley Kim, only 16 years old but a
former US women's amateur champion.

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UNITED STATES LEAD BY THREE POINTS WITH
FINAL EIGHT SUNDAY SINGLES TO COME

United States lead by three points going into the historic third-day
eight singles finale to the 35th Curtis Cup match over the Old Course,
St Andrews.
In glorious sunshine and in front of a shirt-sleeved crowd of 5,800,
Mary McKenna's Great Britain & Ireland squad shared the morning
foursomes 1 ½-1 ½ but lost the afternoon four-ball ties 2-1.
So the United States increased their 4-2 first-day lead by a 3 ½-2 ½
margin for a Saturday night scoreline of United States 7 ½-4 ½.
There is not much between the two teams. United States have won three
of the four sessions by a 2-1 margin but skipper Carol Semple
Thompson's talented squad seem to win the points that matter.
Once again there was a lot of good golf played in perfect conditions.
The six Saturday ties produced a combined total of 33 birdies,compared
with Friday's all-in count of one eagle and 40 birdies.
It's golf of the highest standard and GB&I are hanging on in there. But
they face a mammoth task to make up a 3pt margin over only eight
closing ties.
Scots Sally Watson and Krystle Caithness kept Great Britain & Ireland's
flickering hopes alive with a great win in the afternoon four-ball ties.
Sixteen-year-old Sally from Edinburgh and 19-year-old American college
student Krystle, for whom the Old Course is her home course, shot six
birdies and were six under par in notching up a terrific 3 and 2 win
over America's No 1 ranked college golfer, Amanda Blumenherst and
Meghan Bolger.
Both Scots are making their debut in the Curtis Cup. Watson has won
three out of her four games over the first two days. Caithness has been
fielded twice by GB&I skipper Mary McKenna – and won them both.
"Krystle's putter was red hot. She holed from 20ft to birdie the sixth,
from 40ft for a half in birdies at the ninth and from 15ft for a
winning birdie at the 10th." said Sally.
"Sally hit some great irons, starting at the first where, after the
American had hit a great approach, Sally hit hers to within 3inches of
the hole," said Krystle.
"I was surprised to hear that the Americans never won a hole. I know we
had six birdies and finished six under par.
It's great to have played two Curtis Cup ties and have won them both."
So what's the secret of their success – they won their four-ball tie by
3 and 2 on Friday.
"We just love playing together, we had a lot of fun out there – and we
love winning. It's a great feeling and we work so well together. When I
needed her, Krystle would be there for me .. and vice versa," said
Sally who is a resident student at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in
Bradenton, Florida.
The two other Scots in action in the afternoon four-balls, 15-year-old
Carly Booth from Comrie and former Welsh champion Breanne Loucks from
Wrexham went down by 2 and 1 to Kimberley Kim and Mina Harigae in a tie
featuring some brilliant scoring.
Carly and Breanne reached the turn in this better-ball format in
four-under-par 32 … but were one down to the American's terrific 31
shots for the first nine holes.
Booth and Loucks did square the contest with a par at the 11th but they
bogeyed the 14th and the 17th, losing both holes and the match.
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CURTIS CUP QUOTES

LIZ BENNETT
After she had holed the par putt to halve the final morning foursome.

What was going through my mind?
I was just thinking ‘In the hole …. I lined up the putt and just hit it … don’t look up, just wait for the sound of the ball dropping.
It was downhill and the line was just slightly inside the right edge of the cup.
Yes, that was probably the greatest putt I’ve holed in my life so far! In front of all those people, certainly.
Yes, it was me that drove oiut of bounds at the 17th. Apparently it hit the roof. I didn’t see it. Pretty terrible shot.
We were one up after 10 and then two down after 13.

PLAYING PARTNER JODI EWART
When we slipped to two down, we told each other going down the 14th that we had to keep our heads up. We just couldn’t let them go down. Keep playing and let them make the mistakes … and that’s exactly what happened.

LIZ BENNETT

The 14th was the key. We were both in the same spot, short of the par-5 green, for two and we realised that we could not fly it on to the green and land it in that area. And we knew with a chip and run we couldn’t go for the pin. So we just played it for the level, 10 yards right and Jodi hit the perfect five-iron chip and run.
They tried to fly it, went down the back, went too far (GB&I won the hole with a par 5 to get back to one down).
We were solid parring and they were making mistakes.
The Americans three-putted the 15th and we were back to all square and then we went one up again by winning the 16th with another par.
After I messed it up with my drive at the 17th, I knew I had to do something good to make up for it.

LIZ BENNETT HOLES CRUCIAL PUTT TO
HALVE SATURDAY MORNING FOURSOMES

England international Liz Bennett from Brokenhurst Manor, at 25 the oldest player in the home squad, courageously holed a 5ft downhill putt on the last green to enable Great Britain & Ireland to share the Saturday morning foursomes 1 ½-1 ½ on the second day of the Curtis Cup match under suuny skies over the Old Course, St Andrews.
Bennett and her 19-year-old partner, Texas A&M University student Jodi Ewart from Catterick, Yorkshire finished all square with American college No 1 Amanda Blumenherst and Tiffany Joh in the last tie to finish before lunch-time.
Had Bennett missed the knee-knocker of a putt … from almost the same distance and same position as Doug Sanders did to fall into a losing play-off with Jack Nicklaus in the 1970 Open – then United States would have won the session 2-1 and increased their overnight lead to 6-3 with three afternoon four-ball ties and Sunday’s eight singles still to come.
Both foursomes and four-ball sessions finished 2-1 in favour of the Americans who have not lost to Great Britain & Ireland since the Killarney contest in 1996.
Home skipper Mary McKenna had been hoping her girls would turn the tables on the cup-holders by wiping out the two-point overnight deficit by the end of Saturday’s two sessions of play.
But she was delighted that Liz Bennett was able to salvage half a point and stop the Americans from increasing their overall lead.
“That was a crucial putt,” said Mary. “I told the girls before the start of the day that if they could not win a game then I would settle for half-points. ~They all add up in the end.”
Bennett and Ewart were one up at the turn against Blumenherst and John but lost three holes in a row from the 11th to allow the Americans to leapfrog into a two-hole lead after the 13th.
The English pair responded brilliantly, winning the 14th, 15th and 16th to regain a one-hole lead with two to play.
Then a crisis. Bennett drove out of bounds at the 17th for the Brits to lose the hole and be all square on the 18th tee.
Both pairs made the 18th green in two shots with GB&I some 20yd beyond the flag and the Americans with much the better putt from about 12ft short and wide of the hole.
The Americans just failed to hole their birdie putt for victory after Ewart, tackling her tricky downhill putt, left the ball five feet short of the hole.
The big gallery round the 18th green fell silent as Bennett lined up her crucial putt … and exploded into a great roar when the Hampshire player sank the putt to halve the hole and enable GB&I to share the morning honours.
“I knew it was all resting on me and I felt I had to make up for driving out of bounds at the 17th. That putt must be the best I’ve ever sunk. I have to say it never looked like going anywhere but in the hole … to my great relief.”
Earlier, Edinburgh 16-year-old Sally Watson lost her 100 per cent winning Curtis Cup debut record when she and new Scottish champion Michele Thomson were beaten 5 and 4 by Irish-born Alison Walshe and Stacy Lewis.
The Americans were three up at the turn, lost the 10th to a Scottish birdie 3 but then took the 11th, 12th and 13th to all but extinquish their young opponents’ hopes. The Scots three-putted the 11th and were bunkered at the 13th.
But it was the Scottish-Welsh partnership of 15-year-old Carly Booth from Comrie and Wrexham’s Breannie Loucks who turned the tide for Great Britain & Ireland.
They beat Kimberly Kim and Jennie Lee by 3 and 2 to make it 1-1 on the day. All square at the turn, Carly and Loucks won the 10th with a birdie 3 after Loucks hit her approach stone dead. Then the Americans lost to the 12th to a bogey and the 13th to a birdie 3.
The Americans’ final fling was a birdie 4 to win back the 14th to get back to two down but after a half at the 15th, the GB&I pair closed out their opponents with a par at the 16th.

CURTIS CUP SAT LUNCHTIME INTRO

CURTIS CUP

SATURDAY FOURSOMES
GB&I names first

Carly Booth & Breanne Loucks bt Kimberly Kim & Jennie Lee 3 and 2.

Sally Watson & Michele Thomson lost to Alison Walshe & Stacy Lewis 5
and 4.

Liz Bennett & Jodi Ewart halved with Amanda Blumenherst & Tiffany Joh

GB&I 1 1/2, UNITED STATES 1 1/2

Overall score:

GB&I 3 1/2, UNITED STATES 5 1/2

SATURDAY LUNCHTIME INTRO

England international Liz Bennett from Brokenhurst Manor, at 25 the
oldest player in the home squad, courageously holed a 5ft downhill putt
on the last green to enable Great Britain & Ireland to share the
Saturday morning foursomes 1 ½-1 ½ on the second day of the Curtis Cup
match under suuny skies over the Old Course, St Andrews.
Bennett and her 19-year-old partner, Texas A&M University student Jodi
Ewart from Catterick, Yorkshire finished all square with American
college No 1 Amanda Blumenherst and Tiffany Joh in the last tie to
finish before lunch-time.
Had Bennett missed the knee-knocker of a putt … from almost the same
distance and same position as Doug Sanders did to fall into a losing
play-off with Jack Nicklaus in the 1970 Open – then United States would
have won the session 2-1 and increased their overnight lead to 6-3 with
three afternoon four-ball ties and Sunday's eight singles still to come.
Both foursomes and four-ball sessions finished 2-1 in favour of the
Americans who have not lost to Great Britain & Ireland since the
Killarney contest in 1996.
Home skipper Mary McKenna had been hoping her girls would turn the
tables on the cup-holders by wiping out the two-point overnight deficit
by the end of Saturday's two sessions of play.
But she was delighted that Liz Bennett was able to salvage half a point
and stop the Americans from increasing their overall lead.
"That was a crucial putt," said Mary. "I told the girls before the
start of the day that if they could not win a game then I would settle
for half-points. ~They all add up in the end."
Bennett and Ewart were one up at the turn against Blumenherst and John
but lost three holes in a row from the 11th to allow the Americans to
leapfrog into a two-hole lead after the 13th.
The English pair responded brilliantly, winning the 14th, 15th and 16th
to regain a one-hole lead with two to play.
Then a crisis. Bennett drove out of bounds at the 17th for the Brits to
lose the hole and be all square on the 18th tee.
Both pairs made the 18th green in two shots with GB&I some 20yd beyond
the flag and the Americans with much the better putt from about 12ft
short and wide of the hole.
The Americans just failed to hole their birdie putt for victory after
Ewart, tackling her tricky downhill putt, left the ball five feet short
of the hole.
The big gallery round the 18th green fell silent as Bennett lined up
her crucial putt … and exploded into a great roar when the Hampshire
player sank the putt to halve the hole and enable GB&I to share the
morning honours.
"I knew it was all resting on me and I felt I had to make up for
driving out of bounds at the 17th. That putt must be the best I've ever
sunk. I have to say it never looked like going anywhere but in the hole
… to my great relief."
Earlier,.Edinburgh 16-year-old Sally Watson lost her 100 per cent
Curtis Cup debut record when she and new Scottish champion Michele
Thomson were beaten 5 and 4 by Irish-born Alison Walshe and Stacy Lewis.
The Americans were three up at the turn, lost the 10th to a Scottish
birdie 3 but then took the 11th, 12th and 13th to all but extinquish
their young opponents' hopes. The Scots three-putted the 11th and were
bunkered at the 13th.
But it was the Scottish-Welsh partnership of 15-year-old Carly Booth
from Comrie and Wrexham's Breannie Loucks who turned the tide for Great
Britain & Ireland.
They beat Kimberly Kim and Jennie Lee by 3 and 2 to make it 1-1 on the
day. All square at the turn, Carly and Loucks won the 10th with a
birdie 3 after Loucks hit her approach stone dead. Then the Americans
lost to the 12th to a bogey and the 13th to a birdie 3.
The Americans' final fling was a birdie 4 to win back the 14th to get
back to two down but after a half at the 15th, the GB&I pair closed out
their opponents with a par at the 16th.

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Saturday morning on the Curtis Cup Bridge ... GB&I captain Mary McKenna and team manager Tegwen Matthews stop on the Swilcan Bridge as they walk from their Old Course Hotel base to the first tee for the start of the second day's play in the Curtis Cup.

It's a lovely morning at St Andrews. The sun is shining. If you can get here to watch the action and give the GB&I team your support, set off now!

Picture by courtesy of Cal Carson Golf Agency (all rights reserved). Click on the image to enlarge it

CURTIS CUP SATURDAY AM MATCHES

CURTIS CUP PROGRAMME
FOR SATURDAY

FOURSOMES
GB&I names first
8am Carly Booth & Breanne Loucks v Kimberly Kim & Jennie Lee.
8.12 Sally Watson & Michele Thomson v Alison Walshe & Stacy Lewis.
8.24 Liz Bennett & Jodi Ewart v Amanda Blumenherst & Tiffany Joh.
FOUR-BALLS
Three ties at 12.45, 1pm and 1.15pm.
Captains to announce afternoon line-ups at lunchtime.

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CURTIS CUP DAY ONE RESULTS
Old Course, St Andrews.

GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND 2, UNITED STATES 4
GB&I names first
Foursomes (1-2)
L Bennett & J Ewart lost to S Lewis & A Walshe 3 and 1.
S Watson & M Thomson bt M Harigae & J Lee 1 hole.
B Loucks & F Parker lost to A Blumenherst & T Joh 1 hole.
Four-balls (1-2)
C Booth & Thomson lost to K Kim & Harigae 3 and 2
Watson & K Caithness bt Joh & M Bolger 3 and 2.
Parker & Bennett lost to Blumenherst & Lewis 3 and 1.

CURTIS CUP FIRST DAY WRAP UP

UNITED STATES LEAD 4-2 AT END OF
FIRST DAY OF CURTIS CUP

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

It could have been worse … but it could have been better.

United States lead Great Britain & Ireland 4-2 at the end of the first day of the
35th Curtis Cup, the first to be decided over three days and the first
to be staged over the Old Course, St Andrews.
The Americans, who have not lost this biennial, transatlantic women's
amateur international golf match since Killarney in 1996, won both
sessions of play, the morning foursomes and the afternoon four-balls,
2-1.
With a little bit of luck, skipper Mary McKenna's team would have
shared the post-lunch honours 1 ½-1 ½ and the GB&I team led in two ties
at one stage of the afternoon play.
But it was not to be. After overnight and steady morning rain, the fire
had gone out of the links conditions and the Americans' putting was
simply world-class.
But, to be fair, the home squad hung in there as best they could and
contributed their share of sub-par figures towards the day's all-in
total of one eagle and 26 birdies.
Prince Andrew was among the crowd of 3,000, reduced no doubt by the
miserable weather in the morning.
Sally Watson, 16-year-old Edinburgh girl, was the Day 1 heroine for
Great Britain & Ireland. She played twice, she won twice.
Only two other players on either side could match that – and they were
top two players from the US college golf circuit, Amanda Blumenherst
and Stacy Lewis.
Sally Watson teamed up with new Scottish champion Michele Thomson from
Ellon to win by one hole over Mina Harigate and Jennie Lee.
Then in the afternoon four-ball format, Watson and US college student
Krystle Caithness, brought in to make her Curtis Cup debut, teamed up
well to beat Tiffany Joh and Meghan Bolger 3 and 2.
The young Scots were three under par with a bag of four birdies in
winning by 3 and 2.
The two other Scots in the eight-strong GB&I squad, 15-year-old Carly
Booth from Comrie and Michele Thomson, ran into a barrage of birdies
from former US women's amateur champion – and still a teenager –
Kimberley Kim and Mina Harigae.
The Americans won by 3 and 2 with seven under par figures. Booth and
Thomson had the galling experience of playing out of their skins
themselves – four under par with five birdies – and still losing in 16
holes.
Amanda Blumenherst and Tiffany Joh extended the American lead to 4-2
overall by beating Florentyna Parker and Liz Bennett by 3 and 1.
This was a quality match as well with one eagle and nine birdies and
Amanda and Tiffany were six under par at the finish. Liz Bennett gained
the day's only eagle 3 – at the 514yd fifth where she got home in two
and holed the putt.

United States took a 2-1 lead at the end of a morning of fluctuating
fortunes and late drama in the opening session of foursomes.
Sally Watson and Michele Thomson from Ellon won the No 2 tie by one
hole against Mina Harigae and Jennie Lee. The young Scots surged into a
four-hole lead after only seven holes but then had to keep their nerve
as they fought a rearguard action as the Americans chipped away at the
deficit.
Their win cancelled out a 3 and 1 victory for the United States' Stacy
Lewis and Irish-born Alison Walshe over the all-England pairing of Liz
Bennett and Jodi Ewart in the lead-off tie.
There was a crisis point for the under pressure Watson and Thomson as
they sought to defend a one-hole advantage down the 18th after running
up a 7 to lose the Road Hole 17th.
Thomson's drive landed on the tarmac road that bisects the 18th and
first fairways. It is an integral part of the course and the players
get no relief.
Watson made good contact with her pitching wedge approach shot from an
awkward stance on the tarmac – "I probably wrecked the club but it was
worth it" - but Thomson was left an uphill putt for the pair's third
shot of at least 25ft, maybe longer.
The new Scottish champion was short with her uphill putt but Watson,
with amazing nerves of steel for a 16-year-old, rammed home the
five-footer to halve the hole in par 4s and gave the Scots a one-hole
win.
"There was no way Michele and I were going to lose. We were quite
determined about that coming up the last hole," said 16-year-old Sally.
American's No 1 college player, Amanda Blumenherst, and Tiffany Joh
showed their class with the best scoring of the morning – three under
par 33 for the outward half. That put them four up and apparently in
the driving seat against Breanne Loucks and Florentyna Parker but the
GB&I pair, give them their due, did not throw in the towel and they
gallantly took the match to the 18th.
In fact, had Parker been able to hole a three-footer for a birdie on
the last green, they would have salvaged half-a-point and the morning
session would have ended 1 1/2-1 ½. It was as close as that in the end. _______________________________________________________________________
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CURTIS CUP DAY 1 AM INTRO

UNITED STATES TAKE 2-1 LEAD
IN CURTIS CUP OPENER

United States took a 2-1 lead at the end of a morning of fluctuating
fortunes and late drama in the opening session of foursomes in the 35th
Curtis Cup contest.
On a dreich, misty and wet morning over the Old Course, St Andrews,
Great Britain & Ireland's heroines were 16-year-old Sally Watson from
Edinburgh and 20-year-old Scottish women's champion Michele Thomson
from Ellon, near Aberdeen.
They won the No 2 tie by one hole against Mina Harigae and Jennie Lee
after surging into a four-hole lead after only seven holes.
Their win cancelled out a 3 and 1 victory for the United States' Stacy
Lewis and Irish-born Alison Walshe over the all-England pairing of Liz
Bennett and Jodi Ewart in the lead-off tie.
Bennett and Ewart were two up after five holes but the Americans took a
grip on the match when they won the ninth with a par to get back on
level terms and then birdied the 11th and 12th to go two up.
Watson and Thomson matched the par of 36 on the outward half in the
miserable conditions – and that was good enough to put them into a
four-hole lead. But Harigae and Lee began a recovery with a birdie 2 at
the 11th and when the Scots bogeyed the 13th, their lead had been cut
to two holes.
They did birdie the long 14th to go three up with four holes to play
but the Americans would not be subdued.
They won the 16th and 17th with par figures as Watson and Thomson
wobbled and there was a crisis point for the Scots as they sought to
defend a one-hole advantage down the 18th.
Thomson's drive landed on the tarmac road that bisects the 18th and
first fairways. It is an integral part of the course and the players
get no relief.
Watson made good contact with her approach shot but still left her
partner with an uphill putt of some 25ft.
Thomson then was short with her putt for a clinching birdie but Sally
Watson courageously rammed home a four-footer to halve the hole in par
4s and gave the Scots a one-hole win.
American's No college player, Amanda Blumenherst, and Tiffany Joh
showed their class with the best scoring of the morning – three under
par 33 for the outward half. That put them four up and in the driving
seat against Breanne Loucks and Florentyna Parker.
That lead was stretched to five holes when the Welsh-English pair
bogeyed the short 11th but that was as good as it got for the
Americans. Loucks and Parker gritted their teeth and chipped away at
their big deficit. They won back the 13th with a birdie and the 14th
with a par.
They continued their fightback with a birdie 3 at the 16th and,
amazingly, were only one down with one to play when they won the Road
Hole 17th with a creditable par 4.
Having climbed back up the ladder so far, it was a tragedy that Loucks
and Parker were not quite able to finish off the job against their
talented opponents. Loucks played a great second shot at the last to
within three feet of the pin.
Parker's putt which would have squared the tie – and also the contest
overall – stayed above ground and Blumenherst and Joh were let
off the hook to win by one hole.

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CURTIS CUP DAY 1 FOURSOMES RESULTS

CURTIS CUP DAY ONE RESULTS

MORNING FOURSOMES
Great Britain & Ireland 1, United States 2

GB&I names first

Liz Bennett & Jodi Ewart lost to Stacy Lewis & Alison Walshe 3 and 1.
Sally Watson & Michele Thomson bt Mina Harigae & Jennie Lee 1 hole.
Breanne Loucks & Florentyna Parker lost to Amanda Blumenherst & Tiffany
Joh 1 hole.

Ends morning foursomes
More follows latere.

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MARY McKENNA SAYS OLD COURSE AND
MATCH-PLAY FORMAT ARE VITAL CURTIS
CUP FACTORS IN FAVOUR OF HOME SIDE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
On paper the United States should be overwhelming favourites to win the Curtis Cup for the 26th time in 35 contests over the next three days at the Old Course St Andrews.
They have four of the top-ranked American college circuit players in their team of eight and one has to go back to Killarney in 1996 to find the last of Great Britain & Ireland’s six wins in the series.
But the respective skippers, America’s Carol Semple Thompson and the home squad’s Mary McKenna, the two most experienced Curtis Cup players in the 76-year history of the biennial, transatlantic women’s amateur international contest, don’t see it that way – in public anyway.
Mary, who played in one winning GB&I team in her nine matches between 1970 and 1986, thinks that there are two huge factors in favour of the home players producing what would be an upset win, an upset in the eyes of the pundits.
“The Americans may have the better players on the US circuit. But that is stroke-play in very American conditions, calling for very high shots to holding greens. Here, they are being confronted by something totally different,” said McKenna.
“The Old Course is the ultimate links venue. You have to play a different style to succeed here. Not just bump and run shots but you’ve got to cope with some of the biggest greens in the world. Thirty or 40 yard putts takes a bit of getting use to.
“The Scots in our team, in particular, are very familiar with playing the Old Course in all sorts of winds.
“The other factor is that this is match-play. Match-play can be a great leveller. Even the top US college players hardly play match-play. Here again it’s a different game with which we are far more familiar than our opponents.”
This is the first three-day contest in the series and Mary McKenna scoffs at the home pessimists who say that more ties – everyone will play in Sunday’s final sessions of eight singles – means that the Americans will win by an even bigger margin than they usually do.
“I am making no predictions about the final division of the 20pts at stake over the three days,” said Mary. “I have said to my team that we’re going to take this on half-days at a time and deal with the first three points in the morning session. Even if the girls are focusing on winning each match, it’s almost as important to get a halved match. All the points add up in the end. “My girls have given it 100 per cent in the build-up. They’ve worked very hard this week. They’ve been super. They really have and I just hope for their sake that the weather stays like it has been today, warm and not too windy.” US captain Carol Semple Thompson, who has played in 12 Curtis Cup matches – said she acknowledged that on paper her team had strength in depth but she did not think that stretching the format to three days simplified the visitors’ task.“We’ve had a lot of close matches over the last 10 years, even though the United States ended up winning the Cup most times. The records don’t show how close the ties have been. I don’t expect Great Britain & Ireland to be weak opposition at all.”

SCROLL DOWN TO READ WHO PLAYS WHOM IN THURSDAY MORNING'S OPENING FOURSOMES OVER THE OLD COURSE.

RASH RULES CARLY OUT OF OPENING
CURTIS CUP FOURSOMES

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Comrie’s Carly Booth, at 15 years the babe of the youngest-ever GB&I team selected for a Curtis Cup match, will not play in the opening foursomes on Thursday morning over the Old Course, St Andrews.
And it’s not surprising that skipper Mary McKenna has left the junior Ryder Cup Scot on the sidelines for the time being..
Because Carly revealed on the eve of the 35th match against the United States that she had an itchy rash on most parts of her body.
Booth, one of four Scots in the team for the first time since 1994, missed the Tuesday and Wednesday practice sessions, ostensibly with a sore throat but Carly said it was a bit more serious than that.
“On Monday, I was feeling some aches in my legs and coughing a little. I thought maybe I was just tired.
Monday night I was coughing during the night. So I thought I might get some cough medicine and I’d be fine,” said Carly.
“At breakfast on Tuesday morning, I had a very bad headache. So we decided to go see a doctor. This was at 8.45am and we’re at the doctor’s and I’m sitting there. Then the doctor couldn’t see us until 9.40, so I was kind of falling asleep by then.
“We had noticed at breakfast that I had a little rash on my ankles but we thought that could have been from anything, like from my socks.
“Then Teg (team manager Tegwen Matthews) could see the rash was also on my arms. She woke me up and we could see that the rash was up my arms and all over. But the doctor couldn’t tell me what was causing it..
“So I just rested up The rash kind of went on my face as well and I had really puffy eyes. Wednesday was my worst day for this and I rested all day. I felt fine but the rash was getting really bad
“I thought on Thursday morning I would go out and get some fresh air and play only a few holes because my hands were sore with the rash. But I played all 18 holes. And I felt fine at the end. But the rash is still there and really itchy but I’m trying not to scratch it.”
“I’m ready to play. I’m excited. Very excited about playing in the Curtis Cup for the first time.”
The other Scot who will sit out the opening session is home course player Krystle Caithness, a St Regulus club member, who flew home from the final 72-hole event of the American women’s college circuit at the weekend.
Sally Watson (Elie & Earsferry), only 16 but with an excellent competitive record over the Old Course will partner the big-hitting Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) who won the Scottish women’s amateur title at Lossiemouth a couple of weeks ago. Sally, Carly and Krystle did not play in that tournament because they were still in America at the time.
Michele confirmed that she has been taken under the wing of Paul Lawrie, winner of the 1999 Open at Carnoustie.
“I’m grateful that Paul has included me in his foundation squad where he can give us one-on-one assistance, not only about to play this or that kind of shot in different conditions but how to deal with other things that crop up. I’m raring to go in my first Curtis Cup. The Scottish championship was my first big target of the season. I hit that one. Now to do well and help Great Britain and Ireland win back the Curtis Cup is the top priority for this week.”
The all-England pairing of Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) and American college student Jodi Ewart (Catterick) will tee off in the opening alternate-shot tie against Stacy Lewis and Irish-born Alison Walshe.
Sally Watson and Michele Thomson will go in next against Mina Harigae and Jennie Lee.
The last morning tie will see Welsh girl Breanne Loucks (Wrexham), who won three points out of three in the 2006 Curtis Cup defeat at Bandon Dunes, Oregon two years ago, partner England’s Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) against the top-ranked American college player, Amanda Blumenherst and Tiffany Joh.
The team captains do not have to name their line-ups for the afternoon four-ball ties until lunch-time.
“I am making no predictions about the final division of the 20pts at stake over the three days,” said Mary McKenna.
“I have said to my team that we’re going to take this on half-days and deal with the first three points in the morning session. Even if the girls are focusing on winning each match, it’s almost as important to get a halved match. All the points add up in the end.
“My girls have given it 100 per cent in the build-up. They’ve worked very hard this week. They’ve been super. They really have and I just hope for their sake that the weather stays like it has been today, warm and not too windy.”
US captain Carol Semple Thompson, who has played in 12 Curtis Cup matches – more than any other player on either side of the Atlantic (Mary McKenna tops the GB&I list with nine), said she acknowledged that on paper the US team had strength in depth but she did not think the first three-day contest in the 76-year history of the Curtis Cup would be one-sided in their favour.
“We’ve had a lot of close matches over the last 10 years, even though the United States ended up winning the Cup most times. The records don’t show how close the ties have been. I don’t expect Great Britain & Ireland to be weak opposition at all.”

CURTIS CUP INTERVIEWS

GB&I TEAM CAPTAIN MARY McKENNA
GB&I TEAM PLAYERS
JODI EWART
MICHELE THOMSON

PRESS OFFICER STEWART McDOUGAL
Ladies and gentlemen, we have Jodi Ewart and Mary McKenna, and on this side Michele Thomson. Ladies, if you don't mind, I will start with a question. How does it feel to know the match starts tomorrow morning?
MICHELE THOMSON: I think it feels great to get it started. The practice has been for the past few days. It's been different shots, we and can't wait to get it started.
JODI EWART: It feels good to finally get it underway, and I'm ready to go, and I think the whole team is ready for tomorrow. And the wind has changed from the way we've been playing it for the last three days, so it was good to play different shots on all the holes today.
Q. Captain, changing format this year, you're going to three days, four balls. Do you think that works to your advantage or does it help the American team?
MARY McKENNA: I don't think it's an advantage for either. I think it's great for the players because they know starting off they're all going to play at least once, which is important. I think ?? I honestly don't know whether it's an advantage to either. They're all good players, they've all got ?? it gives extra points to play for.
Q. The fact that the Americans have dominated the match in recent years and they have more players to choose from, so if you're going to have more ties in the match, that might be an advantage to the stronger nation. But you don't see it that way?
MARY McKENNA: I don't ?? I don't think of the advantages or the disadvantages; it's the players, and I have my super eight, and they've been playing for two or three days, you know. They're well capable of getting more than enough points. But I think the fact that everybody does play is good, because they know they're going to get to play.
Q. Talk about Sunday. Do you have a policy about who is playing how many times? Carol Semple Thompson told us she is going to try to play everyone.
MARY McKENNA: We're taking it one day at a time. It's not who I play, the difficulty is ?? I just wish I could play the whole eight, you know? So, I mean, yes, I have to think on those terms, but I would hope to play everybody tomorrow.
It's a young team with lots of experience. I think in earlier years when we had young players ?? we have two at college in the States, two at school in the States, Liz has done her college in the States, and they have so much more experience. They've played against the Americans, and they know they're as good as them, and we wouldn't have known about them in our day.
We would have thought, oh, they're so much better than us. I think the fact that the girls have been around and played so much overseas, and this is why we gave them the opportunity to go to Florida in January and try and play and compete.
Q. Ian Poulter designed outfits for the team. Can you tell us about that?
MARY McKENNA: I don't know about it. I have to think it was a media thing. I spoke to nobody about it, and nobody spoke to me about it. And with the contract with Greenland, there might have been talk about it, and the press just went with it, but I'm happy with what we have.
Q. Can you tell us about the outfits?
MARY McKENNA: They're lovely. (Chuckles.) Different colored sweaters, sweaters, shirts, what else can you play in?
Q. How is Carly's throat?
MARY McKENNA: She just played a full round, yeah, she's great.
Q. Is she talking?
MARY McKENNA: Is she talking? She never stopped! It was difficult to keep her ?? it was more with the weather the last couple of days, and fortunately I had two days to give her off. You know, we said this morning, go out, play two holes, see how you feel. She just came off the 18th green, and she's happy, and she's been striking the ball super, so thankfully it's okay.
Q. (No microphone.)
MARY McKENNA: I think ?? well, yes, I do, actually. It wasn't even so much the rest, but I think it kept her away from the media a little bit and just gave her ?? you know, she's only 15, and it's a huge drag on her from media and from everybody. And the fact that she didn't have that for two days, she comes back now raring to go, and she'll be ready for the week. But, you know, she's grand, just precaution more than anything to catch it early, and thankfully it worked!
Q. (No microphone.)
MARY McKENNA: Try stopping her, yeah, yeah! She certainly is. I mean, she motored around the 18th today, and I said to her going out, play as many as you feel you want to. She never talked about coming in. I think at 9 we thought we would bring her in, and she was fine.
Q. The format has changed this year. Were you a fan of the old format? Would you have liked to have played this format?
MARY McKENNA: I would have loved to have played this format; I love four balls. I would have loved to have played the four balls, foursome, singles, yeah. I think I would have been apprehensive when I played, because I'm a traditionalist, and I probably would have been slower to change, but I think the girls are looking forward to it.
There's more team playing because it's foursome, four balls, and they know they have to play to kill the last day, and it probably takes pressure off me.
Q. Why?
MARY McKENNA: Because you don't have to leave people on the side. Everybody goes out and plays, and it gives me an opportunity to switch pairings and, you know, probably trying to get three matches each for everybody.
Q. It does take away one of the pieces of the U.S., the Curtis Cup, and it's gone headlong into The Ryder Cup fashion, hasn't it? Unique selling points?
MARY McKENNA: What do you mean?
Q. It was ?? the way it was prior to this event, and it was one of the few events played over two days.
MARY McKENNA: Yes.
Q. Now it's much more like The Ryder Cup.
MARY McKENNA: Yeah, gives the spectators an extra day. I think you will have more people over because there's three days of golf to watch. No, I think we've got to go with it. It's the way it's going. I suppose we ?? you can't comment until it's over whether it's right or wrong, but I certainly think the girls are happy with it, and I'm happy with it. Apart from the fact that I get three days of nerve?wraking experience instead of two. The girls have worked the last two years, so giving them three days of this competitive play has got to be good, got to be good for them. The first day is always the settling in day and getting on, hopefully the golf will improve and we'll be sparking.
Q. Michele, am I right in thinking you play some with Paul Lawrie?
MICHELE THOMSON: Yeah, I have.
Q. When would that be?
MICHELE THOMSON: He has a foundation where he has eight players who he gives advice to. He works the same course I do. I've seen him, and he's given me tips on short game, and played 9 holes with him and gotten a lot of experience from him, which has helped coming toward this.
Q. Mary, last few games that we have lost we have had difficulty on the first day. I think the last time you won, the first day you ??
MARY McKENNA: I think we did foursomes; we did great in the morning, and then suddenly ??
Q. (No microphone.)
MARY McKENNA: This is a different match, different team, different girls, different attitude. I think we have had a great amount of experience playing in the States. Jodi competes all of the time. I don't think ?? I'm not one for comparing, I've got a different team, we've got a different course, a different venue. We're going to have huge support! So like there's a whole lot ??
Q. (No microphone.)
MARY McKENNA: Oh, absolutely! Oh, gosh, yeah, irrespective of how we've ever done, yes, definitely.
Q. Michele, can I ask, maybe to both players, do you feel that you have an advantage because you're playing links golf this week, and the American girls I don't think have ever visited Scotland before.
So do you see that as an advantage with your knowledge of links golf and the different shots you have to play? Do you feel that will be a big asset for you over the next few days?
MICHELE THOMSON: Obviously, we've played it a lot more than they have. We're used to playing here; we've played St. Andrews many times. I think it plays well during the day. I don't think there is an advantage at all. They have been out here for the past, what, four days. I think it's enough to know how to play the course, I think.
JODI EWART: Being out in America, and I'm playing regularly against five of the girls, so I know exactly how they play, and playing in America you almost are conditioned to play normal shots all the time. It's rare that you get gusts of wind that you do here, so I needed to be able to play the shots and the chip?and?runs, and you need to be able to control it, so it gives us a slight advantage because we're used to playing like that.
Q. Mary, how about your foursome pairings? Who will you be pairing? Scots to Scots, for example, English to English, or will they be mixed?
MARY McKENNA: They could be mixed. But, I mean, quite honestly, it's a team that ?? I don't think we have English girls and Welsh on the team. It just doesn't come into it. They're all mixed together, and I think I could pick their names out of a hat and they would probably be fine. Obviously, the fact that the Scots have played together, that may be an advantage, but I haven't put the team together so have to wait and see.
Q. (No microphone.)
MARY McKENNA: You'll have to wait until the team goes in. It's a pity, actually, that the Scottish is being played this weekend.
Q. You played in the winning cup teams ??
MARY McKENNA: Team .. ONE winning team.
Q. The '86 team was particularly notable winning in America, wasn't is it?
MARY McKENNA: Yes
Q. Two aspects. How do you take anything from nearly 20 years ago that you would consider very ??
MARY McKENNA: We were proactive. And that's all been done for us, because they have the fitness and the nutrition and the testing and everything so ?? which we wouldn't have had to the same extent, and we were playing in the very hot weather, and we had to drink this perform stuff which was awful but ??
Q. Things have moved on is what you're saying?
MARY McKENNA: Things have moved on but the girls have all of this as well.
Q. The other thing, only Breanne Loucks has played before in the Curtis Cup. Do you think her experience will help, and she is a bubbly character as well, and will it ??
MARY McKENNA: Oh, yeah, that's all helped. She's been telling stories and such, yes, yes!
Q. One final point. You've always had a Great Britain team and you don't believe in Scottish or Irish or ??
MARY McKENNA: No. Q. Are you deep down disappointed? After all, there is no Irish player ??
MARY McKENNA: No, I am not. Honestly, we picked the 8 best players, and if they were all Scottish or all Welsh or all English, I would be happy.
Q. Would you change ??
MARY McKENNA: I wouldn't change a one of them. Absolutely not!
Q. There are 20pt at stake over the three days. What's your guess at the final result?
MARY McKENNA: I have no idea. You know, I said to the girls yesterday, I said we're going to take this on half days and deal with the first three points tomorrow morning, and I said there's thre points on the table to win. You can only win one each, and I think when you boil it down to that, and if they focus on the win and equally have an important match, even if they don't win, it's nearly like a win.
And that's what we've been thinking about. We've been thinking nothing at rounds and pars, just taking each half day as it comes, because that's the way it goes. But I have to say the girls have given it 100%. They've worked very hard this week. They've been super, they really have, and I just hope for their sake that the weather just stays like it is today, that it doesn't get too, too windy and spoil the course, really, because yesterday's wind was a little bit tough, you know?
STEWART McDOUGALL: Mary, Jodi, Michele, thanks very much.
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CURTIS CUP INTERVIEWS

US TEAM CAPTAIN CAROLCUREMPLE THOMSON
US TEAM PLAYERS
MEGHAN BOLGER
ALISON WALSHE

PRESS OFFICER STEWART McDOUGALL
Ladies and gentlemen, can I introduce first of all, Captain Carol Semple Thompson. In the middle is Alison Walshe, and on the right?hand side Meghan Bolger.
Meghan, I know you perhaps are the senior player on the American team. How do you fit in with the younger girls who are under 20? How has this gone so far?
MEGHAN BOLGER: They've adapted to me very well so I appreciate that. No, it's been an absolute blast with the girls. I had the fortunate for several years playing against them over the summertime and coaching against them, so I know them very well.
STEWART McDOUGALL: Alison, you find no problem with somebody who is older?
ALISON WALSHE: No, not at all. She's great, and we all get along so well, and we all know each other through amateur competition so it hasn't been unfamiliar at all.
MEGHAN BOLGER: I was a college coach for seven years so I was able to see them throughout the summertime, recruit and go also when we were playing against them in college events.
Q. Which college?
MEGHAN BOLGER: The University of Mississippi.
Q. Alison, can you tell us about your background? You were born in Ireland, weren't you?
ALISON WALSHE: Yeah. I was born in Galway, Ireland and I moved to the States when I was five years old. All of my family is from Ireland, but I've basically grown up just outside Boston, Massachusetts for the last 17 years.
Q. (No microphone.)
ALISON WALSHE: Pretty much. Boston is very Irish.
Q. What took you to the States in the first place?
ALISON WALSHE: My father's job at the time placed him outside Boston.
Q. (No microphone.)
ALISON WALSHE: All of my dad's side of the family is pretty much in the Galway area.
Q. So you go to Galway?
ALISON WALSHE: Haven't been to Ireland in four years, but I did go quite often when I was younger.
Q. Do you speak Irish? (Speaking Gaelic).
ALISON WALSHE: Not a word.
Q. All right. And do you feel Irish in any respect?
ALISON WALSHE: Definitely. My whole background and my family, my grandparents, aunts, uncles, everyone is very Irish, and Boston is very Irish, and I'm proud of my Irish heritage, but obviously I am playing for the U.S., and I feel strongly about that.
Q. Any chance of you playing for Ireland, or geographically is it impossible?
ALISON WALSHE: No, I haven't played golf for Ireland, just for the U.S.
Q. What was it that your father did or does that took him from Ireland to Boston?
ALISON WALSHE: At the time he worked for Digital, but he's long left that company. Now he works for Sun Microsystems as an operations manager.
Q. Can you talk about what you think of the old course compared to what you've seen on TV and what you find difficult?
MEGHAN BOLGER: I think having a week of practice has been very, very good for us. We've been able to practice a lot of shots. We have excellent caddies who know the golf course, and I'll let Alison talk about their events from last week with the wind, but we're getting acclimated with the shots that we've been trying to practice preparing for this tournament.
ALISON WALSHE: Yeah, and like she was saying, last week five of us were in the ?? in America, the College National Championship, and we experienced similar weather, which was not expected for that part of the country, but strong winds and cool weather.
Obviously coming over here and playing in that same weather, we were comfortable with it, but like she said we've played bump and runs, putters from 30, 40 yards off the green, and we had a lot of time to work on that, so hopefully it will go well.
Q. Sorry, back to the former topic. Did either of your parents or grandparents play for Ireland in any sport?
ALISON WALSHE: Not that I know of. At least.
Q. How familiar are you with the foursomes format?
MEGHAN BOLGER: Familiar in the sense we've played it a lot in practice, and we've done it a lot, but there is not a lot of tournaments that are set up that way, so we've tried to do it as much as we can, practicewise.
Q. (No microphone.) Have you played in a foursomes tournament?
MEGHAN BOLGER: I have yes, but it doesn't happen very often.
ALISON WALSHE: We had a practice session where we did a lot of that format to get accustomed to it.
Q. (No microphone.) What were your feelings when you arrived in St Andrews from the States and saw the Old Course for the first time?
ALISON WALSHE: First reaction was a big "wow!"
Coming back to the home of golf is all surreal, and the same thing when you tee off on the first hole, and especially under the circumstances. You feel that much better about it and very proud to be here, but taking everything in is very overwhelming. It's nice.
Q. How much do you know about the history of the course and I guess the British Open?
ALISON WALSHE: Obviously I've learned about it through the British Open and going to the museum and talking to the caddies, of course, but just the general history of it all.
Q. Can I ask you about the fact that the match has been expanded, introducing four balls, do you think ?? America has been dominant in this competition already, if you have more strength and more matches, the easier you should win. Do you think this helps you that the match is longer?
CAROL SEMPLE THOMPSON: That hadn't occurred to me, but I like it a lot. As far as my own personal reaction, I've had a terrible time figuring out my pairings, because I'm trying to let everybody play three times in the first two days, so it's sort of like a jigsaw puzzle trying to figure it out.
But you could have a point there, so I'm going to relay that to my team and tell them that it's going to be to our advantage!
Q. America wins so often in this match, do you feel an extra pressure not to lose?
CAROL SEMPLE THOMPSON: Well, I think both sides feel that tremendous pressure. I don't know that I feel any extra pressure one way or the other. I'm trying to get my players to play as consistently and well as they can and let the chips fall where they may.
Q. Do you think, Carol, when you discovered that it was going from two to three days and into the new format, you having played as you did under the other format, did you think it was a good idea?
CAROL SEMPLE THOMPSON: I think it's a fine idea, yes. Because it's such a big build up to the match and for two days it seems to go so quickly. I also very much like the idea of being able to play all my players in the singles round on Sunday. So I think the new format will be ?? will work well.
Q. Obviously you are aware that America dominated early on, and then for ten years there was Great Britain domination, and the last ten years American domination again. Do you think that's because American golf has become stronger over the last ten years or British golf weaker?
CAROL SEMPLE THOMPSON: I'm not sure. We have had close matches over the last ten years, even though we ended up winning the Cup, whatever is, the last five matches. I don't know that shows how close the matches have been. I think American golfers are strong, college players certainly are getting a tremendous amount of playing time, junior players are playing in the American Junior Golf Association events.
They're seasoned players, so we should be stronger, I think. Of course our numbers are in our favor, too. But I don't think that Great Britain and Ireland is getting any weaker, and I don't expect them to be weak in the next three days.
Q. Carol, at this stage what do you think will be the hallmark of your team?
CAROL SEMPLE THOMPSON: Well, I think we have eight strong players, which is not always the case, and some of the years I played I was the weak player. But I believe we have eight strong players, and I think we have a lot of depth. If I had to pick a hallmark, I would say that the complete ?? the whole team is strong.
Q. Changing the subject, have you ever been in the Iron 8 Clubhouse before this week?
CAROL SEMPLE THOMPSON: Yes, I had. I played in the British Women's Amateur, and we used the clubhouse in the summer of '75.
Q. And have you roamed around Peter Dawson's office and looked through the binoculars?
CAROL SEMPLE THOMPSON: I haven't been in Peter Dawson's office this week, but I was in his office in October when I came for a visit.
Q. Can I ask the two of you what you thought about it, and what was the coolest place or thing about it?
MEGHAN BOLGER: I liked the telescope from the balcony, so you could see so many things from there, and the chair there. Great view.
Q. (No microphone.)
CAROL SEMPLE THOMPSON: Well, in 1974 we had completed in Great Britain and Ireland, and it was a total eye?opening experience for me then. So I came to know and love links golf at that point. But playing here at St. Andrews is the ultimate test for me, and I'm glad my players are enjoying the bump?and?run game and what have you. They're experiencing what I did 30 years ago.
Q. Wondering if you guys have done any sight?seeing or anything fun?
MEGHAN BOLGER: I think we have photographs of Kim from every single thing we've done. It's been great. We have been able to do a couple of different walking tours on our own, but it's been a lot about the golf and meeting the people that have provided us to be here all week. It's very important for them and very important for us to meet them as well.
CAROL SEMPLE THOMPSON: I think our time really has been very limited here since we didn't get here until Sunday midday, and we couldn't play the golf course that day, and walked around the course and recovered a little bit. I didn't feel we had time for sightseeing, specific trips, if you will, but they have walked around the town a fair amount.
Q. Did you say it was your intention to play everybody before Sunday, or your hope to play everyone before Sunday?
CAROL SEMPLE THOMPSON: It's my hope and my intention, but it's my hope.
Q. I see. That's not quite a guarantee.
CAROL SEMPLE THOMPSON: It's not quite a guarantee, but it is my hope to do that.
Q. Everybody three times?
CAROL SEMPLE THOMPSON: That's my hope.
Q. (No microphone.)
CAROL SEMPLE THOMPSON: That's a good question. If my arithmetic is right, but I think it could work.
Q. Alison, could you tell us what you call your captain?
ALISON WALSHE: We found a new word yesterday. We call her the Skipper.
CAROL SEMPLE THOMPSON: They haven't had the courage to say that!
MEGHAN BOLGER: No, just Carol.
Q. Meghan, I know you have family with you, but can you talk about what it's like to share this experience with them and have them here supporting you?
MEGHAN BOLGER: Most of them did not bring their golf clubs, and they're here to support me and the team, and that's more than anything, because we know they're going to come back. It's not like they don't play, but we have 20 people, and two surprised me today, which is pretty exciting as well. It means more than anything.
ALISON WALSHE: Same. Mine on the other hand did bring their golf clubs, but it's really special for me, too, because I have a lot of family, like I said, in Ireland, and I got to see a lot of my family I haven't seen in years, and they're all coming over to support.
Kind of mixed feelings, because they're on the Irish side as well as the U.S. side, but it means something to have everybody here.
Q. How many from Ireland?
ALISON WALSHE: Probably about ten.
Q. From Galway?
ALISON WALSHE: All over, Dublin, Galway, Mayo.
Q. (No microphone.)
ALISON WALSHE: They came over on the ferry to take their cars with them.
STEWART McDOUGALL: Thank you very much ladies.

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