Great Britain & Ireland claimed a historic 10½-9½ victory over the United States of America in the 43rd Curtis Cup after a thrilling final day at Sunningdale.
GB&I captain Catriona Matthew, who led Europe to back-to-back Solheim Cup triumphs in 2019 and 2021, savoured another famous team success against Meghan Stasi’s USA team.
The decorated Scot led GB&I to their first win in the Curtis Cup since 2016. “They’re a fantastic team,” said Catriona. “I’m so proud of them. They really dug in every day and in every session. It didn’t look as though it was perhaps going our way today, but they really toughed it out. It’s just been a fantastic experience for me getting to know them and they were great.
“My hat’s off to the Americans as well. There was some fantastic golf on all three days, and it just made it a spectacle for women’s golf. The golf this week really was quite amazing. I think the future of women’s golf is in good hands.”
With the hosts leading 7-5 overnight, GB&I needed three-and-a-half points from the eight singles matches to triumph. Ireland’s Sara Byrne, Patience Rhodes from England and Scotland’s Lorna McClymont were all victorious, with Patience’s sister, Mimi, securing the precious half point.
On a tense final day, which ebbed and flowed over the Old Course at the Berkshire venue, the USA began the singles in dominant fashion helped by the team featuring four of the top-10 players in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.
At one stage the visitors were ahead in six matches, but GB&I turned the tide and celebrated in style as each member of the team delivered at least a point across the match.
A record crowd for a Curtis Cup enjoyed the three-day match, totalling 16,680. Justin Rose, Charley Hull and Colin Montgomerie were among the onlookers as Sunningdale hosted the Curtis Cup for the first time.
Asterisk Talley, aged only 15, put the first point on the board for the USA in the opening match, recording five birdies and an eagle at the 10th in a superb victory over Lottie Woad. It was a first defeat in five matches this week for the world’s number one amateur.
Patience Rhodes picked the perfect day to deliver her first point of the week, easing to a 6&5 win over Zoe Campos, which ended with a glorious tee shot from the English player at the par three 13th.
Sara secured an impressive 3&2 triumph against Catherine Park – the Irishwoman taking her tally to three-and-a-half points from five in an unbeaten display – before Anna Davis replied with a 3&2 win over Hannah Darling.
With four ties left on the course, it was 9-7 to the hosts and delicately poised. Jasmine Koo closed the deficit to just a point after wrapping up a 4&3 success against Beth Coulter, helped by back-to-back birdies at the 10th and 11th.
All eyes then turned to Lorna, a two-time R&A Student Tour Series Order of Merit winner, in a pivotal meeting with 2023 US Women’s Amateur champion Megan Schofill in the penultimate match.
That battle was all-square through eight holes before the Scot made the decisive move, birdieing four of the next five holes and winning three of them to take a commanding lead that she would not relinquish.
At the same time, Mimi Rhodes mounted the gutsiest of comebacks against Melanie Green, taking the eighth, 11th, 13th and 14th holes to turn a 3dn deficit into a 1up lead.
Rhodes then held firm down the stretch and jubilantly celebrated her key par putt at the 17th, before Melanie won the 18th to avoid individual defeat.
Lorna’s success and the half-point for Mimi Rhodes meant convincing victories for Koo and three-time Curtis Cup player Rachel Kuehn against Aine Donegan were not enough for the USA.
The 44th Curtis Cup will be played at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, June 12-14 2026.
