Curtis Cup Golf: ‘Party will go on forever’ says jubilant Tegwen Matthews

Matthews said the party to celebrate Great Britain & Ireland’s first victory in the biennial event in 16 years would “go on forever”.

That was hardly surprising, not just because of the nature of their success over the three days but also due to the fact it had been achieved after the team suffered a devastating blow in the build up to the match. Sue Turner, the team manager, died at the age of 50 in February after battling illness since last autumn, the pain of that loss hitting no-one harder than her close friend Matthews.

“We had a job to do but that was in the back of all our minds this week,” admitted the Welsh woman. “That we have done it for Sue is wonderful and I feel majestic about that.”

Matthews had jokingly remarked that she felt like “slitting my wrists” after watching GB&I lose the opening session on Friday morning 3-0 then find themselves trailing in all three of the afternoon matches. But she heaped praise on her players for the way they fought back to still be in a position where they had a chance of winning the match heading into the final singles session.

“I am extremely proud of my team,” she added. “They were all disappointed after what happened on Friday morning but they pulled it through.

“I was confident they could do it as they had both the talent and desire to win. Each character in this team is very strong.”

The win means that the Curtis Cup has been added to the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup and Walker Cup in being held on this side of the Atlantic – the first time that has happened.

“That is a very special achievement,” added the GB&I captain. “We had joked about that not creating any extra pressure but for me that was a challenge and one I liked as I am just as competitive as these girls.

“This is the best thing ever in my whole life and we are really going to party now.”

Matthews heaped praise on Kelly Tidy, who set the tone in the singles with a brilliant fight-back in the top match against Austin Ernst.

“That was vital,” she said. “Kelly’s match-play record is second to none and that was one of the factors in putting her out at No 1. Her win was a turning point.”

Pamela Pretswell, the only Scot in the GB&I team, was delighted to make it second-time lucky in the event after being on the losing side two years ago. “This is unbelievable,” said the Bothwell Castle player. “To be on a winning Curtis Cup team in Scotland is beyond my expectations.”

Her contribution in Saturday afternoon’s fourballs, which the home team won 2½-½, was acknowledged by Pat Cornett, the US captain, as she reflected on her side’s first loss in the event in eight matches. “We are obviously disappointed, but I think this [the result] is good for the game and the Curtis Cup,” said the Californian, who broke her ankle in a buggy accident on Friday.

“We started out strong in the top match [Ernst was three up after six] but to then lose that was deflating.”

On Pretswell joining forces with Stephanie Meadow, the eventual match-winner, to claim a crucial point the day before, she added: “I think that was huge.”

Meanwhile, it was announced at the closing ceremony that the 2016 match will be held at Dun Laoghaire in Dublin.