MANCHESTER, Mass., June 11 (UPI) -- Sally Watson and Lisa Maguire rallied for a key victory Friday that gave Great Britain & Ireland a 3 ½-2 ½ lead after one day of the Curtis Cup matches.
The competition, held every other year, brings together teams of female amateur golfers from Britain-Ireland and the United States.
All three of the morning foursomes' matches were halved, after which Watson and Maguire lost a 2-up lead in the afternoon before coming back for a 1-up victory over Americans Jessica Korda and Tiffany Lua.
The U.S. team of Alexis Thompson and Jennifer Johnson overcame a one-hole deficit through the eighth to record a 3-and-2 victory over Rachel Jennings and Leona Maguire.
In the first match of the afternoon, Danielle McVeigh and Pamela Preswell defeated Americans Kimberly Kim and Jennifer Song 4-and-3.
The cup will be determined by the concluding singles matches Saturday at the Essex Country Club. The United States leads the all-time series 26-6-3 and has won the last six competitions.
The British and Irish team has not won in the United States in 24 years.
