It was a perfect debut for Scotland's Sally Watson, but the United States still sneaked into a 4-2 lead over Great Britain and Ireland after the opening day of the Curtis Cup at St Andrews.

Sally, the 16-year-old from Elie and Earlsferry, showed her class with a 100% record. She joined Scottish Amateur Champion, Michele Thomson, in a dramatic final green win in the foursomes, and then partnered local girl, Krystle Caithness, to a 3 and 2 victory in the fourballs.

"It was really great fun," said the delighted Sally, who joined Americans Stacy Lewis and Amanda Blumenherst as the player with full points from the first two series. "Getting a point in the foursomes was a great momentum boost, and Krstyle and I always seem to do well together.

"We were unbeaten at last year's Girls' Home Internationals and we just seem to gel really well.   We trust each other and today there was always one of us that seemed to have a chance to win the hole. We both holed some good putts."

Comrie's 15-year-old Carly Booth, who has now overtaken Royal Musselburgh's Jane Connachan (16 in 1980) as the youngest ever GB and I player, sat out the foursomes and then lost 3 and 2 with Thomson in a high class top match in the fourballs.

The US pair of 16-year-old Kimberly Kim and Mina Harigae were seven under par when they closed out the match on the 16th green.

"They were just a little too good," conceded Carly. "Kimberly is the top-ranked amateur player in America and won the US Amateur Championship when she was just 14. We made a lot of birdies, but not quite enough."

Sally, a pupil at the David Leadbetter Academy in Florida, and Michele survived a late fightback to defeat Harigae and Jennie Lee on the final green in the foursomes. Dormie three up, the home favourites lost the 16th to a par and then Watson drove out of bounds at the notoriously tough 17th.

But she more than made amends at the last, hitting an approach shot off a pathway and then making a tricky four foot putt to halve the hole in four and secure the full point. .

Krystle, a member of the local St Regulus Club, was a surprise omission from the foursomes, but was delighted to get a full point in the 16th hole win over Tiffany Joh and Meghan Bolger.

"It is so special playing in St Andrews, and it was great to get the win with Sally," said the 19-year-old Fifer.

Results (GB and I first):
Foursomes: GB and I 1 US 2 Liz Bennett and Jodi Ewart lost to Stacy Lewis and Alison Walshe 3 and 1; Sally Watson and Michele Thomson beat Mina Harigae and Jennie Lee one hole: Breanne Loucks and Florentyna Parker lost to Amanda Blumenherst and Tiffany Joh one hole.
Fourballs: GB and I 1 US 2 Carly Booth and Thomson lost to Kimberley Kim and Harigae 3 and 2: Watson and Krystle Caithness beat Joh and Meghan Bolger 3 and 2; Parker and Bennett lost to Blumenherst and Lewis 3 and 1
Overall score; GB and I 2 USA 4