Sensational Meadow makes all the difference for GBI

GOLF CURTIS CUP:STEPHANIE MEADOW produced a sensational display yesterday to become the heroine as Britain and Ireland regained the Curtis Cup – 16 years after last winning it at Killarney.

The 20-year-old Alabama University student from Royal Portrush clinched the crucial single point that gave the hosts a dramatic 10.5-9.5 victory at Nairn in the north of Scotland.

It was a success that means all four Cups – the Ryder, Solheim,Walker and now the Curtis – are on this side of the Atlantic.

After losing all three foursomes on Friday morning, things looked pretty bleak but Britain and Ireland stuck to their task and went into the final day of singles just one point adrift at 6.5-5.5.

Meadow, the 2006 Irish girls’ champion who helped Ireland grab the silver medal in the European Girls’ Team Championship two years ago, and was runner-up in last year’s Euro individual title event, was superb yesterday and produced the best figures of the day, four under par, in beating Amy Anderson 42.

All square at the turn, Meadow, who has made a major impact at university in the States and won nine titles on Junior Golf Tour since 2006, birdied the 10th to edge ahead and then went two up when Anderson made a mess of the 13th. A birdie at the 15th put her three ahead and she finished things off at the next.

It was Meadow’s third point of the contest from five matches – the same as achieved by English duo Kelly Tidy and Holly Clyburn. They were the most successful of the home players.

Slieve Russell teenager Leona Maguire did not have the best of times, and playing the anchor role yesterday was overwhelmed 65 by Brooke Pancake, the best of the Americans with 3.5 points.