| On the 50th anniversary of the first
international match for the Curtis Cup, the United States defeated
Great Britain and Ireland, 14 ½- 3 ½, at the Denver Country
Club, in Denver, Colorado. The victory was the 18th for the
United States, and the 12th in succession. The score was largest
winning margin in the history of the competition. Formal competition
between the United States and Great Britain and Ireland began
in 1932, when a group of eight American women golfers went to
Wentworth, England. As part of the anniversary ceremonies, every
former player and captain from both sides was invited to a reunion
at Denver. Forty- seven attended, including four members of
the original 1932 teams- Glenna Collett Vare, Maureen Orcutt,
and Dorothy Higbie from the American side, and Enid Wilson from
the British side.
The United States dominated the 1982 Match from the beginning.
U.S. Amateur Champion Juli Inkster and four- time Curtis-
Cupper Carol Semple opened the first day's foursomes with
a 5- and- 4 victory over Mary McKenna and Belle Robertson.
Amy Benz and Cathy Hanlon, college teammates at Southern Methodist
University, won, 2 and 1, over Gillian Stewart and Jane Connachan.
British Women's Amateur Champion Kitrina Douglas and 17- year-
old Janet Soulsby, the youngest competitor on either side,
gave their team some hope by halving their foursomes match
with Kathy Baker and four- time Curtis- Cupper Lancy Smith.
At the end of the first day's foursomes, the United States
led, 2 ½ - ½. In the singles, the United States won five and
lost only one, to increase its lead to 7 ½- 1 ½. Mrs. Inkster,
Miss Baker, Miss Benz, Miss Hanlon, and Mari McDougall each
won a match for the United States. Miss Soulsby won the only
British point with a 2- up victory over three- time Curtis-
Cupper Judith Oliver. The United States won the first hole
in every match of the first day- the three foursomes and all
six singles.
The second day began with the United States needing only
two more points to retain the Cup. Mrs. Inkster and Miss Semple
opened the foursomes with a 3- and- 2 victory over Miss Connachan
and Wilma Aitken. Miss Baker and Miss Smith supplied the clinching
point with a 1- up decision over Miss Douglas and Miss Soulsby
when Miss Baker holed a delicate six- foot birdie putt at
the final green. Miss McKenna, playing in a record- tying
seventh Curtis Cup Match, and Mrs. Robertson, in her sixth
Match, edged the American tandem of Miss Benz and Miss Hanlon,
1 up, to close the foursomes portion of the competition.
In the final afternoon's singles, the United States again
won five of six singles matches. Mrs. Inkster was the leading
point winner with four of a possible four. All eight Americans
contributed at least one point to the victory. Mrs. Scott
L. Probasco, of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, was the Captain
of the U.S. Team. Mrs. Probasco had been selected to compete
in the 1956 Curtis Cup Match, but had to decline because of
the impending birth of a child. Mrs. Maire O'Donnell, of Donegal,
Ireland, was the Captain of Great Britain and Ireland.
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