Great Britain & Ireland holds off late United States charge to win 2024 Curtis Cup

It’s GB&I’s first Curtis Cup win since 2016.

Mimi Rhodes gave a subtle, but powerful fist pump, but her teammates reactions told the story.

The players from Great Britain & Ireland stood next to the 17th green, and they knew how good Rhodes’ par putt was to halve the hole. It was enough to secure, at worst, a half point. But that’s all Rhodes needed.

GB&I won its first Curtis Cup in eight years on Sunday, topping the Americans 10 ½ -9 ½ at Sunningdale in England. On a day when World No. 1 Lottie Woad and fellow stalwart Hannah Darling lost their singles matches for the hosts, it was the likes of Mimi Rhodes, her sister Patience, Sara Byrne and Lorna McClymont who carried GB&I to their ninth victory in the biennial competition.

Curtis Cup: Best photos from Sunningdale

Even with a young and inexperienced team, the Americans came into the Curtis Cup as favorites. Rachel Kuehn, playing in her third Curtis Cup, was in the anchor match Sunday and won 3 and 2 against Aine Donegan, but she was the lone player with experience in the international competition that mimics the Solheim Cup.

The young Americans, like 15-year-old Asterisk Talley and incoming USC freshman Jasmine Koo, played well. Talley knocked off Load 3 and 2 in singles while Koo topped Beth Coulter 4 and 3. However, a couple of the veterans, who waited to turn professional for a shot to play on the Curtis Cup team, were unable to win down the stretch.

The 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, Megan Schofill, lost 3 and 2 to Lorna McClymont. Earlier this summer, McClymont lost to Melanie Green in the final of the Women’s Amateur Championship. The win helped Green punch her ticket on the U.S. Curtis Cup team, but on Sunday, she halved her match against Mimi Rhodes in what turned out to be the clincher.

In the left trees with no second shot on the penultimate hole holding a 1-up lead, Rhodes had to punch out into the fairway for her third. She hit a brilliant shot beneath the hole to roughly 15 feet.

Green, about 40 yards further up the fairway, had a green light to try to tie the match. Her attempt sailed long and left but remained on the green.

Green’s birdie putt trickled close to the hole but didn’t fall. Rhodes responded, pouring hers in to clinch at least a half point and the ninth Curtis Cup win all-time for GB&I. Green won the closing 18th to in fact halve the match, but the U.S. fell half a point short of retaining the cup.

The Americans now own a 31-9-3 lead in the biennial competition.

With 15-year-old Asterisk Talley shining, U.S. started strong, but GB&I rallied to even Curtis Cup Match

Nothing about the Curtis Cup Match will be easy for the U.S., even with three straight victories in the rear-view mirror.

Nothing about the Curtis Cup Match will be easy for the United States, even with three straight victories in the rear-view mirror.

And that message rang true during Friday’s opening day of play at Sunningdale in England.

The U.S. side ran out to an early edge, but the team from Great Britain and Ireland rallied to pull things even before the day’s end.

More: Everything to know about the 2024 Curtis Cup at Sunningdale

U.S. captain Meghan Stasi’s side led 2-1 after the morning foursomes, but a chip-in from Sara Byrne on the 17th hole sealed a 2-and-1 win over Catherine Park and Zoe Campos in the afternoon session, pulling things even. Byrne, from Ireland, was paired with Lottie Woad.

https://twitter.com/CurtisCup/status/1829617587698688153

“I’m absolutely delighted,” said GB&I captain Catriona Matthew. “At one point this morning it looked like we were going to be beaten three-nil, but then we had a good comeback. The standard of golf has been pretty amazing. The Americans have made a lot of birdies, we’ve made a lot of birdies, and it was exciting out there in the four-balls. I can see in the team that their confidence is growing just from that finish there this afternoon.”

One of the shining stars for the Americans was 15-year-old Asterisk Talley, who paired with Jasmine Koo for nine birdies in 14 holes during a convincing 5-and-4 win over Lorna McClymont and Mimi Rhodes.

Talley made a name for herself earlier this year when she won the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, leading wire-to-wire. Then she made her Augusta National Women’s Amateur debut before dominating the USGA circuit this summer.

In the afternoon session, Talley made birdies on holes No. 10, 11 and 13 to clinch the victory.

“I think both teams played extremely well,” said Stasi. “It was a really good start for us in the morning. We had a couple all-square matches that we came back and fought for. I think they’re going to learn a lot from today. It’s a long day out there for most of them.

“I think they’re going to learn a little bit more about each other’s games and just take that into tomorrow.”

Play resumes on Saturday.

Saturday, Aug. 31 

1:45-2:05 a.m. – Foursomes (three matches)

7:05-7:35 a.m. – Four-Ball (three matches)

Sunday, June 10 

4:05-5:15 a.m. – Singles (eight matches)

Best photos from the 2024 Curtis Cup at Sunningdale

The Americans own a 31-8-3 lead in the biennial competition.

The 43rd Curtis Cup is in the books.

Great Britain & Ireland won for the first time in eight years, topping the Americans 10.5-9.5 on Sunday at Sunningdale in England. Mimi Rhodes was clutch down the stretch, earning the deciding half point to win the cup back for GB&I.

The Curtis Cup, an eight-woman competition between the best amateurs from the United States against their counterparts from Great Britain and Ireland, began Friday at Sunningdale’s Old Course in England. This is the first Curtis Cup contested at Sunningdale and the 10th in England.

Here’s a look at the best photos from the 2024 Curtis Cup.

Highly ranked Royal Dornoch in Scottish Highlands lands 2028 Curtis Cup Match

The 2028 Curtis Cup Match is headed to one of the best courses in the world.

Competitive women’s amateur golf has scored another victory, landing one of the top golf courses in the world as host of the 2028 Curtis Cup Match at Royal Dornoch in northern Scotland.

The Championship Course at Royal Dornoch is ranked by Golfweek’s Best as the No. 3 course outside the United States. Opened in 1877 as a nine-hole layout in the Scottish Highlands, the links course was extended to 18 holes in 1886 by Old Tom Morris. Other designers have contributed over the decades to the hilly seaside layout, including John Sutherland, George Duncan and most recently the team of Tom Mackenzie and Martin Ebert.

This year’s Curtis Cup Match, a biennial team event featuring top female amateurs representing the U.S. and Europe, is August 30-Sept. 1 at Sunningdale Golf Club’s Old Course in England, which Golfweek’s Best has tied for No. 9 among courses outside the United States. The 2026 match will be held from June 12-14 at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, which ties for No. 57 among all classic courses in the U.S.

The dates for the 2028 match are to be determined.

“We look forward to staging the Curtis Cup at such a historic venue in 2028,” Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, executive director of championships for the R&A, said in a media release announcing the selection of Royal Dornoch in the run-up to this year’s staging of the event. “We want to give elite amateur golfers world-class platforms to show us how well they can perform, and that will certainly be the case at Royal Dornoch. The Championship Course has earned worldwide acclaim and it promises to be a wonderful occasion in the rich history of the Curtis Cup.”

Royal Dornoch Championship Course
Royal Dornoch’s Championship Course in the Scottish Highlands (Courtesy of Royal Dornoch Golf Club)

Royal Dornoch has a track record of hosting top amateur events, including the 1985 British Amateur Championship and four Scottish Men’s Amateur Championships, most recently in 2023.

“The Curtis Cup is also going to be a tremendous occasion for the local area,” Neil Hampton, general manager at Royal Dornoch, said in the media release. “With the Championship Course consistently ranked highly in global standings and the investment in our infrastructure as we build a new clubhouse, a match of this standing and stature will only enhance the reputation of Royal Dornoch, the town and the local area.”

24 things to look forward to in amateur golf in 2024, including the Curtis Cup and new NCAA Championship venue

The championship calendar for amateurs is loaded this year.

The calendar has turned to 2024, which means the golf schedule is fresh, kicking off this week with the PGA Tour’s The Sentry in Hawaii.

However, the professional game is only one aspect of the global sport. Amateur golf takes up a big chunk of the schedule, and there are plenty of signature events to be excited about in the coming year.

Whether it’s the Curtis Cup or a new NCAA Championship venue, players returning from injury or others having one last semester in their college careers, there is plenty to look forward to in the amateur golf realm.

Here are 24 things to look forward to in amateur golf in 2024.

Every venue hosting USGA championships in 2024, including Pinehurst No. 2 and Hazeltine

There are some fantastic venues on the slate for 2024.

Another busy year is on tap for the United States Golf Association in 2024, and several of the organization’s biggest events are headed to the best golf courses in the world.

On the men’s side, Wyndham Clark claimed the U.S. Open title at Los Angeles Country Club in California in 2023. Next year, the best male players in the world will take on historic Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina. Martin Kaymer won the last U.S. Open staged at No. 2 (2014).

As for the women, Allisen Corpuz won the first-ever U.S. Women’s Open staged at Pebble Beach Golf Links. In 2024, the ladies are headed to Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania.

Here are all 17 of the USGA’s events on the 2024 calendar. And here are all the trophies the USGA hands out at its championships.

USGA announced Meghan Stasi will captain 2024 United States Curtis Cup team

“Being asked to fill the role of captain is humbling.”

The United States will have plenty of experience at the helm during the 2024 Curtis Cup.

The USGA announced Tuesday that four-time Women’s Mid-Am champion Meghan Stasi would captain the 2024 U.S. Curtis Cup team. The biennial competition pits the top female amateur golfers from the U.S. against the best from Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I), and will be at Sunningdale Golf Club in England.

“Meghan is one of the top amateur players of her generation, and her impact on the women’s amateur game is substantial,” John Bodenhamer, USGA chief championships officer, said in a release. “It was clear to us that Meghan becoming captain of our USA team was a matter of when, not if, and we’re thrilled she has agreed to take on the role in 2024.”

Stasi was a member of the victorious 2008 Curtis Cup Team at St. Andrews. Stasi’s four U.S. Women’s Mid-Am titles are tied for the most in the championship’s 35-year history. She won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007 before winning again in 2010 and 2012.

“My experience in 2008 with the Curtis Cup team was incredibly meaningful and rewarding; being asked to fill the role of captain is humbling,” Stasi said. “I’ve had the opportunity to attend the match and be around the teams the last two years in Wales and at Merion, and the level of talent and poise these amateur golfers have is inspiring and infectious to be around. I can’t wait to begin this journey and most of all, be part of the USA team again.”

In 2021, Stasi became the youngest individual ever inducted into the Florida State Golf Association (FSGA) Hall of Fame. To date, she has won 17 FSGA titles, including two Florida Women’s Amateurs and five Florida Women’s Mid-Amateurs. Stasi is an eight-time FSGA Player of the Year.

The U.S. won the 2022 Curtis Cup at Merion Golf Club for its third straight victory. The USA leads the overall series, 31-8-3.

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