USA dominate Great Britain and Ireland to retain Curtis Cup

USA win seven of eight singles matches at Merion Golf Club 

Lauren Walsh. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)

The United States have retained the Curtis Cup, with Rachel Kuehn securing the winning point for the second successive year.

Great Britain and Ireland were up against it in the biennial women's amateur event - played in Wales last August due to a coronavirus delay - trailing by 8 1/2 to 3 1/2 as they entered the final day of eight singles at Merion Golf Club in Pennsylvania.

It meant the hosts required only 1 1/2 points to make it three wins in a row and they duly completed that task when 21-year-old Kuehn, in the second match out, beat Caley McGinty 2&1 as Rose Zhang had already defeated Louise Duncan 7&5.

Kildare's Lauren Walsh picked up one-and-a-half points in fourballs and foursomes for Great Britain and Ireland on Saturday, but was defeated 2&1 in the singles by World Amateur No 4 Rachel Heck.

The USA went on to win the first seven singles, with only Emily Price in the final match grabbing a point for GB and Ireland with a 4&3 win over Amarai Avery, as the hosts eventually won 15 1/2 to 4 1/2.