Curtis Cup: A strong Irish influence ensured that Britain and Ireland's hopes remained alive into the final singles session of the 34th Curtis Cup match over the Bandon Dunes course in Oregon last night after the US had threatened complete domination.
The visitors have been attempting to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat - the last victory was at Killarney in 1996 - but after trailing 7-2 following the opening day it seemed an impossible task.
But captain Ada O'Sullivan of Monkstown remained defiant, and said on Saturday night: "It's not over yet. There are still nine games to play."
And indeed in the foursomes yesterday her team responded, with the Irish trio of Tricia Mangan, Tara Delaney and Martina Gillen playing their parts brilliantly.
Although the visitors and underdogs were whitewashed 3-0 in the foursomes on Saturday, two of the matches went to the last green and they should have had something to show for their efforts.
For a time the singles situation was promising, but just after the turn there was a general collapse. Beaverstown's Gillen, for example, was all square after 10 holes with Jennie Lee, but then lost four of the next five to crash to a 5 and 4 defeat.
There was individual joy for the two youngest members of the team. Yorkshire's English champion Kiran Matharu, aged 17 from Cookridge Hall, and 18-year-old Welsh international Breanne Loucks from Wrexham secured their first Curtis Cup points with fine successes.
Tara Delaney, the twice Irish strokeplay champion, came up against Jane Park and fought hard but lost 3 and 2, while Claire Coughlan, the most successful player two years ago, was out of sorts and went down 5 and 4.
For a time during yesterday's foursomes it looked as though America might wrap it up with the singles remaining, but the visitors produced a marvellous finish to turn things around and take the session 2½-½ to trail overall 7½-4½, leaving the States requiring another 1½ points to retain the trophy.
Teenagers Loucks and Melissa Reid gave the visitors an early boost when they romped to a 7 and 5 victory over Lee and Jenny Suh. Level after three holes, they won six of the next seven to go dormie and wrapped up the match with a regulation four at the 13th - they were two under par at the finish.
The Irish pair of national champion Mangan and 20-year-old Tara Delaney were two down early on to Jane Park and Taylor Leon but battled hard to go in front at the 14th only to lose the next two holes. But to their credit they stuck to their guns and a par five at the last was sufficient for them to win the hole and halve the match.
Gillen and Yorkshire's Naomi Edwards produced an even more remarkable result against Paige Mackenzie and Amanda Blumenherst. One down most of the way, they squared at the 16th and went in front for the first time at the 189-yard 17th.
A half at the next gave them a vital point.
CURTIS CUP
US v Britain & Ireland
(at Bandon Dunes, Oregon)
Day One (Saturday) Foursomes: T Mangan, K Matharu lost to P Mackenzie, A Blumenherst 5 and 4; M Gillen, N Edwards lost to V Derby Grimes, A McCurdy 2 up; C Coughlan, M Reid lost to J Park, T Leon 1 up. Foursomes: US 3 Britain and Ireland 0. Singles: Matharu bt J Suh 2 and 1; Gillen lost to J Lee 4 and 3; B Loucks bt Blumenherst 5 and 4; Reid lost to P Mackenzie 5 and 4; T Delaney lost to Park 3 and 2; Coughlan lost to Leon 5 and 4. Singles: US 4 Britain and Ireland 2.
Day Two: Foursomes: Mangan, Delaney halved with Park, Leon; Reid, Loucks bt Lee, Suh 7 and 5; Gillen, N Edwards bt Mackenzie, Blumenherst 1 up. Foursomes: Britain and Ireland 2½ US ½.
Match position: Britain and Ireland 4½ US 7½.
