U.S. team takes 5-1 lead over Great Britain in Curtis Cup at Merion
Amari Avery, an 18-year-old from California, played a key role for the Americans, posting wins in the four-ball competition and the afternoon foursomes.
It didn’t matter which player Amari Avery was paired with Friday on the opening day of the 42nd Curtis Cup Matches at Merion Golf Club, whether it was with a fellow rookie in the morning four-ball competition or with a Cup veteran in afternoon foursomes.
The 18-year-old Avery, who considered turning pro out of high school before enrolling at Southern California this spring, was a major contributor in two matches and came away with two points, helping Team USA to a 5-1 lead over Great Britain and Ireland on a beautiful, sun-splashed day.
Avery teamed with 18-year Megha Ganne, who graduates from high school later this month, for a 3-and-2 win over Caley McGinty and Lauren Walsh. She came back in the afternoon with Rachel Kuehn and defeated McGinty and Emily Price, 3 and 2, helping provide a nice 21st birthday present for Kuehn.
» READ MORE: Curtis Cup players are in awe of iconic Merion Golf Club
“I think our games match up really, really well,” said Kuehn, a junior at Wake Forest. “She is an incredible player. I think she’s one of the youngest on the team, but I know she has everyone’s respect. Her best golf is still ahead of her, so keep an eye on her.”
Avery and Kuehn never trailed in the match. McGinty and Walsh twice reduced the deficit to one hole, the last time with a birdie at No. 11. But the Americans won the next two holes and closed out the match on the 16th.
Earlier, Avery watched as Ganne thrilled the gallery with a chip-in at the par-3 eighth hole to continue a surge that eventually led to a 4-up lead, and the pair coasted home.
“Honestly, it’s surreal,” said Avery, of Riverside, Calif. “To think that I would have potentially passed this up and not gotten this experience, I don’t know what I’d do. I’ve always wanted to turn pro, and that’s been my dream for forever. But I don’t see the point in rushing to get out there. I think it’ll always be there. But this won’t.”
The only win posted by Great Britain and Ireland came in the anchor match of the morning when Louise Duncan and Charlotte Heath posted a 2-and-1 win over Rose Zhang and Emilia Migliaccio. Zhang, the world’s No. 1 woman amateur, rebounded in the afternoon with Stanford teammate Rachel Heck for a 3-and-2 win over Heath and Amelia Williamson.
Competition resumes Saturday at 8 a.m. with three four-ball matches, followed by foursomes in the afternoon.