Great Britain and Ireland produced an unbeaten four-ball game this afternoon to take a two-point lead on the final day of the 43rd Curtis Cup.
Over at Sunningdale Old Course, Catriona Matthew's side were full of belief to build a 7-5 advantage ahead of tomorrow's eight singles matches.
GB&I is bidding to win the Curtis Cup for the first time since 2016, while the USA has won 11 of the last 13 tournaments. Matthew's side need to reach 10½ to win the title on Sunday.
With the score 3-3 overnight, the morning foursomes were scrapped before the home team produced a brilliant afternoon display against Meghan Stasi's Team USA to win by two-and-a-half points out of three.
England's Lottie Woad, the world number one, has continued to excel on the big stage. Woad and Ireland's Sara Byrne have played four sessions together and are the first unbeaten Curtis Cup pairing since the tournament changed to a three-day format in 2008.
Afternoon fourballs
Scotland's Hannah Darling and England's Mimi Rhodes set the tone for GB&I with the first point of the afternoon. The pair finished with nine birdies and secured a 3&2 victory over Jasmine Koo and 15-year-old Asterisk Talley.
Rhodes successfully secured the first point of the week, while Darling followed up her four-time victory in the morning with Ireland's Aine Donegan.
Beth Coulter and Lorna McClymont then combined for a good 2&1 win against Anna Davis and Melanie Green. McClymont, who lost the Women's Amateur Final to Green in Portmarnock in June, is looking for some redemption as she and Coulter registered eight birdies. Coulter's incredible approach to four feet on the 16th for the winning birdie proved crucial.
Woad and Byrne then halved a titanic match with Rachel Kuehn and Megan Schofill as the USA avoided a three-game losing streak on the afternoon. There was no more than a one-hole gain for either team in a compelling tournament, with Woad putting up a 30-footer on the 12th for a memorable birdie before the US responded in style on the 17th when Schofill birdied the 12th. 20.
In the morning four times
On an overcast day in Berkshire, the game was in good shape after an intense morning session of foursomes. For the first time since the game changed to five overs in 2008, the teams were tied at 4½ points apiece going into the second day.
There was no passing hole between the pairs in the top match, which saw Woad and Byrne square off against Green and Kuehn. Woad and Byrne moved forward again and again but found themselves behind for the first time on the 16th and 17th.
Green then had a five-foot putt to win the match for the USA on the 18th, but it slipped off the edge of the hole to give Woad a chance to salvage a crucial half-point.
The USA got the perfect score with Catherine Park and Zoe Campos, who won the senior competition against Patience Rhodes and Coulter. Park and Campos made seven of GB&I's six birdies and closed out a 2&1 victory that led from 3 over.rd.
However, Darling and Donegan ensured that the morning ended on a par for the teams again, with the former clutching a clutch putt on the final green to beat Davis and Schofill by one hole.
“There is still a long way to go”
Catriona Matthew said: “They are an amazing group of girls. It was a pleasure to be their captain. Really catch today. 1.5-0.5 this morning and the display this afternoon is really unbelievable.
“No lead is ever big enough. In any game you'd rather be 7-5 up than 7-5 down. There is still a long way to go. The Americans will go out to fight tomorrow. We had a good day today, we enjoyed today, but we will be ready for tomorrow.”
Hannah Darling added: “I'm so happy. I played well the last two days and I'm very happy to get three points on the board now. It's my third Curtis Cup so I have some experience to bring to it.
“With the last two losses to Great Britain and Ireland, I want this more than ever in the team. We have a great time with a really nice group of girls with a great captain and vice-captains. This is for everyone and we want it really bad. “
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