Irish trio star as Curtis Cup opening day ends level

Sara Byrne produced a brilliant finish to ensure Great Britain and Ireland fought back to end day one of the Curtis Cup on level terms with the United States.

Partnering England's Lottie Woad against Catherine Park and Zoe Campos in the final fourball match, Ireland’s Byrne holed from long range for birdie on the 16th and then chipped in for another on the 17th at Sunningdale.

That sealed a 2&1 victory for the home pair and gave GB&I their second win of the session, Clare's Aine Donegan and Hannah Darling having earlier beaten Anna Davis and Megan Schofill on the last.

The visitors had won one and halved two of the morning foursomes to enjoy a 2-1 lead in their bid to win the biennial contest for the fourth time in succession.

Donegan and fellow Irish player Beth Coulter had picked up a half point in that early session against Jasmine Koo and Campos, as did Byrne and playing partner Woad against Park and Asterisk Talley.

"Honestly I’m a bit speechless at the minute but absolutely delighted," Byrne told Sky Sports.

"I was kind of waiting for something to fall because I’d been hitting good putts and chipping well all day, so to do it on 16 and 17 is a dream."

GB&I captain Catriona Matthew added: "I’m absolutely delighted. An amazing finish and after we had a shaky, nervy start, 3-3 going into tomorrow is just fantastic for us I would say.

"In that bottom game Lottie and Sara were (three) up and then the Americans went eagle, birdie, par, birdie, birdie and it was great golf from both sides. They lost their lead but hung in there and came back with some birdies of their own at the end."

Asked what her main message would be to her team ahead of day two, former Solheim Cup skipper Matthew added: "Just that they’ve shown now they can