The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Darling shines, but US stages Curtis comeback
Scotland’s Hannah Darling shone again but Great Britain and Ireland’s record lead after the first day at the Curtis Cup was wiped out by the USA on the second day at Conwy.
The US team came flying back from their opening day disappointments to win the foursomes 2.5 to 1.5. In the afternoon they made up the point deficit with two wins to GB&I’s solo victory, from the 18-year-old Darling and partner Annabell Fuller.
It leaves the match delicately poised at six points each going into the eight final day singles, but the momentum is with the visitors on a sobering second day in the North Wales sunshine.
Darling, who heads to begin a degree course at the University of South Carolina immediately after these matches, remains confident GB&I can prevail. She joined with Fuller for a 4 and 3 win over Rachel Heck and Gina Kim.
“We both played some good golf, very much when we needed to be,” she said. “We didn’t hole as many putts as we would have liked, but we didn’t really need to in the end.
“It’s just so great being here. I really think that this whole tournament brings out the best in us.
“Tomorrow the thought is going to be, we know we need to perform well and win. That’s the only kind of option.
“I have full confidence in the team. We’re all playing well, we just need to go out there and just believe that we can do it.”
GB&I captain Elaine Ratcliffe paid tribute to her youngest team member’s effort so far.
“She’s taken it to them, she really has,” said the skipper. “She’s playing great shots when she needs to and she has a steely determination.
“We are so fortunate to have her on our team. She’s great in the team room, she’s great out on the golf course.
“She plays with a lot of heart and you can’t ask for any more than that.”
The captain admitted GB&I “weren’t quite there” in the foursomes, but were ready for the final day singles.
“This is what they have dreamt about, going out on the final day with an opportunity to win the cup,” she said.
“They will seal their own fate and I’m looking forward to a really stunning day of really good, competitive golf. We played well this afternoon and pushed the Americans to play even better.”
The ebb and flow of the foursomes saw the US come out of the blocks fast, GB&I haul them in around the turn, only for the Americans to finish the stronger.
The all-Scottish duo of Louise Duncan and Darling lost to Heck and Rose Zhang.
The No 1 player on the world amateur rankings is the only one on either team to be unbeaten going into the final day.
The US went out an early three-up lead. Although hauled back to one-up just after the turn, they pulled away again on the back of Zhang’s brilliant putting to win 3 and 2. Rachel Kuehn and Emilia Migliaccio delivered the USA’s second point over Charlotte Heath and Fuller. It was left to Emily Toy and Caley McGinty to rescue GB&I from a sweep with a half in the bottom match.
GB&I captain Ratcliffe split up the Scots for the fourballs but US Amateur champion Jensen Castle and Kuehn were never behind as they defeated Duncan and Lauren Walsh 3 and 2.
Toy and McGinty suffered their second defeat of the matches to Allisen Corpuz and the brilliant Zhang. But Darling and Fuller were able to repeat their first day heroics.
Their 4 and 3 win over Heck and Kim at least ensured that GB&I would enter the final day at 6-6 and slowed the tide of American red on the scoreboards.