Curtis Cup: Early statement of intent from Britain and Ireland

A statement of intent from Britain and Ireland, for sure! In capturing the opening foursomes 2-1, the home side lay down a marker against favourites United States in this 39th biennial Curtis Cup match here at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club in the foothills of the Wicklow mountains.

Olivia Mehaffey and Bronte Law put the first point on the board with a superb 2 and 1 win over Hannah O’Sullivan, the world number one, and Mariel Galdiano. The point was secured in emphatic fashion, when Law rolled in an 18-footer for birdie on the 17th to seal the deal . . . . and the roars from the large galleries reverberated back towards the 16th green where, shortly afterwards, the second home point was claimed.

In the middle foursomes, Leona Maguire and Charlotte Thomas - who had trailed by two holes after the fifth - fought back to claim a 4 and 2 win over Andrea Lee and Mika Liu.

The USA managed to avoid a morning whitewash when Bailey Tardy and Monica Vaughn recovered from a three hole deficit after eight holes to win on the final hole against Maria Dunne and Meghan MacLaren, where the home duo failed to get up and down from greenside rough and ran up a closing bogey.

Of the importance of getting that first point on the board, Mehaffey said: “We worked really well together.

“We knew each others’ games and wanted to support each other as much as possible. We couldn’t ask for much more.”

The first day’s play continued in the afternoon with three fourball matches, with Maguire partnering Law and Mehaffey teaming up with Thomas as team captain Elaine Farquharson-Black shuffled her team. Maria Dunne was rested, with Maclaren paired with Alice Hewson.