For the first time since 2016 and for only the ninth time in Curtis Cup history, Great Britain and Ireland reclaim the Curtis Cup after a stunning weekend of golf at Sunningdale Golf Club.
Captained by Catriona Matthew, who becomes the first winning captain of the Curtis Cup for amateurs and the Solheim Cup for professionals, led her side superbly to a well deserved but narrow victory.
The winning moments came within minutes of each other. Lorna McClymont secured a point against Megan Schofill on 16, winning 3&2. Then one hole ahead of them on 17, Mimi Rhodes guaranteed GB&I the final half point that confirmed their victory.
GB&I led going into today’s singles 7-5, a vital lead that proved crucial given the talent the US side possess.
At the start of the day, it was felt that Catriona Matthew had put all her big guns out early. Lottie Woad, Sara Byrne and Hannah Darling were all undefeated for GB&I during the foursomes and fourballs.
Byrne remained unbeaten after beating Catherine Park 3&2 but shock defeats for Woad and Darling against Asterisk Talley and Anna Davis respectively swung the momentum in the favour of the US.
At one stage the visitors were ahead in six matches but the standout performance from today’s singles came from England’s Patience Rhodes. Rhodes beat the world number four Zoe Campos 6&5, even after being one down after the first.
In the end, wins for Jasmine Koo against Beth Coulter and Rachel Kuehn against Aine Donegan were not enough for the US and celebrations had already begun down the 18th as Mimi Rhodes halved her match against Melanie Green.
A record crowd of 16,680 spectators attended the three-day Curtis Cup match, making it the most well-attended in the event’s history. Among the onlookers this week at Sunningdale—hosting the Curtis Cup for the first time—were notable figures such as Justin Rose, runner-up at The 152nd Open at Royal Troon in July, Solheim Cup player Charley Hull, and European Tour legend Colin Montgomerie.
GB&I captain, Catriona Matthew said:
“They’re a fantastic team. I’m so proud of them. They really dug in every day and in every session. It didn’t look as though it was perhaps going our way today but they really toughed it out. It’s just been a fantastic experience for me getting to know them and they were great.”
It was a brilliant sceptical of golf all weekend. GB&I may have got the win but there was simply nothing between the two sides. The US didn’t go down without a fight and showed why they had four of the top-ten players in the world amateur rankings.
Meghan Stasi, Captain, United States of America said:
“I’m really proud of them. We had a lot of new players so to represent the USA for the first time in a Curtis Cup, it’s pretty amazing what they accomplished.”
Sunningdale Golf Club certainly played its part. A beautiful, challenging and immaculate course proved its worth, staging some world class golf.
The Curtis Cup showed once again, these elite amateur players will provide golf fans around the world quality entertainment when given the platform to do so. I have no doubts from the golf that people have witnessed this weekend that there will be future major championship winners from both sides.
The 44th Curtis Cup will be played at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles from 12–14 June 2026.
Swing and Hope 
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