Golf

GB&I well placed to win Curtis Cup at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club

Leona Maguire has played a key role for GB&I at the Curtis Cup
Leona Maguire has played a key role for GB&I at the Curtis Cup
By Phil Casey

GREAT Britain and Ireland will take a commanding 8-4 lead into the final day of the 39th Curtis Cup after a brilliant performance at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club.

The home side won five of the six points available on day two and need just two and a half from Sunday's eight singles matches to secure victory.

The United States has won eight of the last nine contests between the top female amateurs from both sides of the Atlantic, although Great Britain and Ireland did taste victory in the last home tie at Nairn in 2012.

England's Bronte Law made it four wins from four - and three from three with partner Olivia Mehaffey - as they beat Monica Vaughn and Bethany Wu 3&2 in the afternoon fourballs.

Meghan MacLaren and home favourite Maria Dunne beat Bailey Tardy and Mariel Galdiano by the same score with Leona Maguire and Charlotte Thomas making it a clean sweep with a comprehensive 5&4 victory over world number one Hannah O'Sullivan and Mika Liu.

Earlier in the day, GB&I won the foursomes 2-1 for the second day in a row to take a 5-4 lead into the fourballs, which were interrupted by torrential rain which caused flooding on the greens.

Law partnered Mehaffey to a second foursomes win, recovering from three down after three holes to beat Tardy and Vaughn 3&2.

MacLaren and Dunne secured a one-hole victory over Sierra Brooks and Andrea Lee, with MacLaren holing a crucial par putt on the last to seal the win.

Only world number two Maguire and Thomas suffered a defeat, losing a tight contest on the last to O'Sullivan and Wu.Whatever it might be, you can’t beat the real thing.”

Singles Draw – Day 3 – 12 June

GB&I V USA

10:00 Hannah O'Sullivan V Olivia Mehaffey

10:10 Bailey Tardy V Charlotte Thomas

10:20 Sierra Brooks V Leona Maguire

10:30 Monica Vaughn V Rochelle Morris

10:40 Andrea Lee V Alice Hewson

10:50 Mika Liu V Bronte Law

11:00 Bethany Wu V Meghan MacLaren

11:10 Mariel Galdiano V Maria Dunne