First Women's British Open, Now Curtis Cup over St. Andrew's Old Course

There’s a little international event taking place this weekend in a town by the sea in Scotland. On the heels of Lorena Ochoa’s major-championship-coming-out-party in St. Andrew’s last Summer, the Curtis Cup matches ‘twixt sides from Great Britain/Ireland and the USA are contested Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The USA team, frankly, is loaded. Stacy Lewis, Amanda Blumenhurst and Tiffany Joh are three of the most important names in NCAA golf. Elder stateswoman, just-turned-30 Meghan Bolger and younger stateswomen Mina Hirigae (18) and Kimberly Kim (16) represent the two age-extremes of the American side. Representing the home team is an even-younger collection of talent. Stretching from 15 to 25, the GBI amalgamation has time on its side; if 2008 is not its year, certainly 2010 will offer a chance to defeat the USA.

On Friday, the USA side jumped to a 4-2 lead on the strength of two victories from Stacy Lewis-led pairings. On Saturday morning, the teams halved the three matches, with precocious, 15-year old Carly Booth earned her first point by teaming with Breanne Loucks for a victory over Kimberly Kim and Jennie Lee.

With the totals at 5.5-3.5, USA, the three afternoon matches have the potential to tip the scales in the favor of either team. Currently at the third pole, the triumvirate of contests are either all square or 1 up/down. Saturday afternoon is shaping up to be a climacteric for these matches.