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.