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US make it six in a row

It was a disappointing final day at the Curtis Cup. Not only was the weather cold, damp and miserable in St Andrews, but Great Britain and Ireland's hopes of a famous victory at the Old Course were dashed by the superbly talented American team.

Ahead 7 1/2 - 4 1/2 going into the eight singles, Tiffany Joh, Kimberley Kim and then Stacy Lewis won three of the first four points to bring a quick end to the contest. America has now won the Cup six times in a row.

But there were many positive that the home team could take from the occasion. Over the three days, the golf was of a superb standard, and the two local girls - Elie and Earlsferry's Sally Watson and St Regulus member Krystle Caithness - could take extreme pride in their performances.

Watson, just 16, won three out of five matches, while 19-year-old Caithness had a 100% record from her three outings and ended an impressive week by winning her singles 2 and 1 against Mina Harigae.

Watson, who had partnered Caithness to victory in two fourballs, had a humdinger of a tussle at the tail of the singles order. Two down at the turn to the Irish-born American, Alison Walshe, the feisty young Scot managed to get back to all square with three to play.

But in miserable cold, blustery and rainy conditions, she lost the 16th to a par four and went on to lose the match on the final green.

Michele Thomson, the Scottish Amateur Champion, secured a half point in her singles against Jennie Lee. But the fourth Scot in the team, Carly Booth, suffered a heavy 6 and 5 defeat from Tiffany Joh.

The third full point for GB and I in the singles came from English teenager Florentyna Parker. The 18-year-old beat Meghan Bolger 6 and 4 to claim her first point of the week.

In the American team, Stacy Lewis was the outstanding performer - she won all five matches - a terrific effort.

Results (GB and I first):
First day
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 
Second day
Foursomes: GB and I 1 1/2 US 1 1/2 Booth and Loucks beat Kim and Lee 3 and 2; Watson and Thomson lost to Walshe and Lewis 5 and 4; Bennett and Ewart halved with Blumenherst and Joh
Overall score: GB and I 3 1/2 US 5 1/2
Fourballs: GB and I 1 US  2 Booth and Loucks lost to Kim and Harigae 2 and 1; Watson and Caithness beat Blumenherst and Bolger 3 and 2; Bennett and Parker lost to Walshe and Lewis one hole
Overall score: GB and I 4 1/2 - 7 1/2
Final day
Singles: GB and I 2 1/2 US 5 1/2 Loucks lost to Kim 3 and 1; Ewart lost to Blumenherst 2 and 1; Bennett lost to Lewis 3 and 2; Booth lost to Joh 6 and 5; Thomson halved with Lee; Parker beat Bolger 6 and 4; Caithness beat Harigae 2 and 1; Watson lost to Walshe one hole.
Final score: GB and I 7 US 13