Although U.S. Curtis Cup captain Barbara McIntire paired her youngest and, arguably, her most talented, players together in the opening group of the 30th Curtis Cup Match, it was those who followed that day that provided the experience - and inevitably the firepower.

Brenda Corrie Kuehn, who brought in the winning point for the Americans and brought the Cup back to the United States for the first time since 1990, recorded a 4-0 record. Teammate Kellee Booth equaled that feat. Both admitted to having revenge on their minds.

"It was definitely a mission," said Booth, who, along with Kuehn, was on the losing side of things in 1996. The Americans took a twopoint lead after the morning matches of Day 1 and never let go en route to a 10-8 victory over Great Britain and Ireland Aug. 1-2 at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis, Minn.

McIntire, in her second tour of duty as captain, increased her record to 2-0. The United States headed into the final singles matches ahead 7 1/2 - 4 1/2, needing only two points to clinch the cup.

"To win the Curtis Cup back for America, not for ourselves but for our country, was really what we had in mind all week," said McIntire, a six-time U.S. Curtis Cup team member.

To its credit, Great Britain and Ireland won three of Sunday's singles matches, and if Kuehn and Booth had not played 1-2, the ending could have been scripted quite differently.

"After the morning we weren't deflated," said G.B.&I. captain Ita Butler, who had led her side to victory in 1996.

"We really believed we could do it," she continued. "I thought we had a great six players out there and it was just really a matter of a few putts."

Jenny Chuasiriporn, the 1998 U.S Women's Open runner-up, and Beth Bauer, 1997 U.S. Girls' Junior champion, were paired in both foursome matches, losing their first, 1 down, and their second, 2 down. While Bauer carded a solid 5-and-3 win in singles on Saturday, Chuasiriporn struggled to gain a half point after being as much as 4 down.

"I think the mechanics were drifting away a little bit," said Chuasiriporn. "Beth and I had many chances we should have taken advantage of.

Virginia Derby Grimes gave the U.S. its first point in the match when her four-foot par putt on the 352-yard, par-4 16th hole clinched a 3 and 2 victory in the third foursomes match of the morning. Grimes paired with Robin Burke for the win, before the twosome followed with a 2 and 1 victory Sunday. Grimes, who halved her Sunday singles match, was the only other player on the U.S. team to not lose a point.

The U.S. team carried the success of Saturday morning's matches into the afternoon, winning three of six singles matches.

Carol Semple Thompson made her record 10th Curtis Cup appearance but failed to secure a point during the Match, posting an 0-2 singles record.