Lewis USA win again to lead the Curtis Cup

ST. ANDREWS, SCOTLAND – Former University of Arkansas golfer Stacy Lewis helped the United States increase its lead in the second day of the 2008 Curtis Cup at St. Andrews, Scotland, Saturday. Lewis and USA teammate Alison Walshe remained undefeated as the United States opened a 7 ½-4 ½ lead over Great Britain and Ireland. Play concludes with single matches Sunday. The morning foursome featured an alternate shot format with Lewis paring with Walshe of Westford, Mass. The duo led wire-to-wire against Scottish teenagers Sally Watson and Michele Thomson winning 5-and-4. The afternoon match was more of a challenge with the sides all square for 13 of 18 holes. GB&I took a 1-up lead with a birdie on the eighth hole but Lewis squared the match with a birdie of her own on the ninth hole. GB&I had birdie chances on the 17th and 18th holes but both puts slid by the cup as the Lewis and Walshe hung on for the win. The bi-annual event has seen the USA win the last five events. The USA needs 10 total points with 2 ½ in singles, to retain the Curtis Cup for the sixth consecutive match while GB&I needs six of the available eight points to win. Walshe is 3-0 and Lewis is 4-0 as Saturday’s play concluded. “I kind of wanted to do that coming into it,” said Lewis. “I hit the ball the best I have this afternoon and made a lot of birdies and I’m just excited that I can help the team.” “I don’t think we can ever be too far ahead,” said USA captain Carol Semple Thompson. “I’m very pleased to be three points ahead. I think we’ve had some really well-fought matches. I’m very proud of my team, to come through at the end. Getting two points this afternoon was huge.” For more information regarding Razorback women’s golf or University of Arkansas athletics please visit www.LADYBACKS.COM.

ResultsSt. Andrews, Scotland – Results of the second round of foursomes (alternate shot) and four-balls (best-ball) matches at the 2008 Curtis Cup Match, played Saturday at the par-72, 6,638-yard Old Course at St. Andrews.

FoursomesCarly Booth, Comrie, Scotland, and Breanne Loucks, Wrexham, Wales (GB&I) def. Kimberly Kim, Hilo, Hawaii and Jennie Lee, Henderson, Nev. (USA), 3 and 2Alison Walshe, Westford, Mass., and Stacy Lewis, The Woodlands, Texas (USA) def. Sally Watson, Elie, Scotland, and Michele Thomson, Ellon, Scotland (GB&I), 5 and 4 Liz Bennett, Sway, England and Jodi Ewart, Middleham, England (GB&I) halved with Amanda Blumenherst, Scottsdale, Ariz., and Tiffany Joh, San Diego, Calif. (USA)

Four-ballsKimberly Kim, Hilo, Hawaii and Mina Harigae, Monterey, Calif., (USA) def. Carly Booth, Comrie, Scotland, and Breanne Loucks, Wrexham, Wales (GB&I), 2 and 1Sally Watson, Elie, Scotland, and Krystle Caithness, Cellardyke, Scotland (GB&I) def. Amanda Blumenherst, Scottsdale, Ariz., and Meghan Bolger, Oakland Park, Fla. (USA), 3 and 2Alison Walshe, Westford, Mass., and Stacy Lewis, The Woodlands, Texas (USA) def. Liz Bennett, Sway, England and Florentyna Parker, Southport, England, (GB&I), 1 up

PairingsSt. Andrews, Scotland – Pairings for Sunday’s round of singles matches at the par-72, 6,638-yard Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland (times are EDT):5 a.m. – Breanne Loucks, Wrexham, Wales, (GB&I) vs. Kimberly Kim, Hilo, Hawaii (USA)5:10 a.m. – Jodi Ewart, Middleham, England, (GB&I) vs. Amanda Blumenherst, Scottsdale, Ariz. (USA)5:20 a.m. – Liz Bennett, Sway, England, (GB&I) vs. Stacy Lewis, The Woodlands, Texas (USA)5:30 a.m. – Carly Booth, Comrie, Scotland, (GB&I) vs. Tiffany Joh, San Diego, Calif. (USA)5:40 a.m. – Michele Thomson, Ellon, Scotland, (GB&I) vs. Jennie Lee, Henderson, Nev. (USA)5:50 a.m. – Florentyna Parker, Southport, England, (GB&I) vs. Meghan Bolger, Oakland Park, Fla. (USA)6 a.m. – Krystle Caithness, Cellardyke, Scotland (GB&I) vs. Mina Harigae, Monterey, Calif. (USA)6:10 a.m. – Sally Watson, Elie, Scotland, (GB&I) vs. Alison Walshe, Westford, Mass. (USA)