Duggleby shines but America win again (From Gazette & Herald)

Duggleby shines but America win again

DESPITE three victories from four matches, Malton and Norton's Emma Duggleby finished up on the losing Curtis Cup side for the third time in a row.

Great Britain and Ireland's amateur women golfers lost 10-8 to the United States at the Southport-based Formby Golf Club last weekend.

In front of over 8,000 spectators on Sunday, the home side's 2-1 win in the final-morning foursomes levelled the scores at 6-6 with the final six singles to play.

The hosts then led in three ties and were all square in another, but the US finished strongly to take the singles 4-2 to clinch the cup for the fourth successive time.

Duggleby looked set to earn a clean sweep of wins, having won both her foursomes matches, with Shelley McKevitt, and her singles on Saturday.

But she lost 3 and 2 to Paula Creamer in her final singles match. Duggleby had four bogies in the outward half and the next five holes were halved as she trailed by two holes. Creamer broke the stalemate with a birdie three at the 15th and secured a half at the next to clinch the win.

Earlier, Duggleby, who played in each leading match, got the hosts off to a great start along with McKevitt, defeating Paula Creamer and Jane Park in the opening foursomes match 3 and 2.

Duggleby then beat Elizabeth Janangelo in the singles, making two birdies to come back from one down at the turn to end up a 3 and 2 winner. The Malton and Norton member was the only GB and I player to win her singles as the US recovered from a 3-0 deficit to lead 5-4 after the first day.

Duggleby and McKevitt levelled the score in the first foursomes match on Sunday, beating Erica Blasberg and Sarah Huarte 2 and 1. They went four up after only seven holes, with Duggleby holing from 20ft at the first and McKevitt from 30ft, off the green, for the third-hole birdie.

After the home pair went five up after ten, the Americans won three holes in a row before the 16th and 17th were halved, giving Duggleby and McKevitt victory.

Duggleby said: "We were very disappointed as it was a very close game. I was really pleased with the way I played and was delighted to get three out of four points."

Of her one defeat, she said she couldn't hole any putts for birdie.

She added that the key to the American's victory was the Saturday afternoon. "We led 3-0 after the morning foursomes, but ended the day 5-4 down and on the back foot. The Americans' short game was good and I was quite surprised at how well they adapted to links golf."

Duggleby is back in action next week in the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship at Gullane, which starts on June 22.

The BBC will be broadcasting a one-hour highlights programme this Sunday.

Updated: 13:09 Wednesday, June 16, 2004