Holly propels Brits to glory
By Grimsby Telegraph | Monday, June 11, 2012, 08:15
CLEETHORPES golfer Holly Clyburn helped Great Britain and Ireland stage a brilliant last-day surge to win back the Curtis Cup from the United States.
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WINNERS! The Great Britain & Ireland squad that beat America in the 2012 Curtis Cup, in Nairn, Scotland, yesterday. Cleethorpes golfer Holly Clyburn is on the back row, second from right.
The 21-year-old was in superb form as the British team won the biggest prize in amateur golf at the Nairn Golf Club in Scotland yesterday.
They finished victors by 10.5 points to 8.5. Trailing by one point going into the final set of eight singles, captain Tegwen Matthews' team notched individual wins by Clyburn, Kelly Tidy, who was three down after six holes, Amy Boulden, Charley Hull and the clincher from Stephanie Meadow.
The last time GB beat the Americans was at Killarney in 1996.
The US were bidding to win the Curtis Cup for an eighth straight occasion in the biennial fixture.
It is thought to be the first time since 1956 that the United States have lost a Curtis Cup match after leading into the final set of singles matches.
The Ryder Cup, Walker Cup, Solheim Cup and the Curtis Cup all now rest on this side of the Atlantic.
Clyburn was also part of the British Curtis Cup squad when the big competition was last held two years ago. The United States were victorious on that occasion – but revenge was sweet this time around.
English amateur champion Tidy came back from three down after six to put the first point of the final day on the board.
Her 2 and 1 victory over Austin Ernst squared the match overall at 6.5 points each.
Britain's overall points total rose to 8.5 with wins by Clyburn (3 and 2 over Erica Popson) and Amy Boulden (3 and 1 over Emily Tubert).
The United States advanced their overnight total of 6.5 by one when Lisa McCloskey beat Scotland's Pamela Pretswell 4 and 3.
Charley Hull played sub-par golf to beat Lindy Duncan 5 and 3, but the Americans' total moved up with Brooke Pancake registering a 6 and 5 win over Leona Maguire in the eighth singles.
Stephanie Meadow produced the clinching point by beating Amy Anderson 4 and 2.
The next Curtis Cup, in 2014, will be played at St Louis Country Club, Missouri.
Comments
Congratulations to Holly and the rest of the team. A great acheivment, your country is proud of you all.
By Mechanix at 15:30 on 12/06/12
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