University of Stirling golfer wins coveted Curtis Cup

University of Stirling golf scholar Lorna McClymont has won the Curtis Cup – one of the most coveted team competitions in the amateur game – with Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I).

Team GB&I emerged victorious over their American counterparts on Sunday – with a thrilling 10½-9½ win – after a hard-fought three-day battle at Sunningdale Golf Club in Berkshire. It is the first time that GB&I have won the biennial matchplay competition since 2016 and only their ninth victory in the history of the event, which has been held 43 times since it was established in 1932.

Competing in front of thousands of spectators and live on Sky Sports, Lorna – who trains at Stirling, Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, under professional golfer turned coach Dean Robertson – was pivotal in securing GB&I’s success.

GB&I went into the final day’s singles matches with a 7-5 lead, knowing that three and a half points was enough to win. After teammates Sarah Byrne and Patience Rhodes won a point each earlier in the day, Lorna secured the tenth point – guaranteeing at least a tie – with a 3&2 win over Megan Schofill. However, almost simultaneously, Mimi Rhodes holed a par putt against Melanie Green to guarantee at least a half point and confirm GB&I’s win.

University of Stirling golf scholar Lorna McClymont (back left) alongside Stirling alumna and GB&I captain Catriona Matthew (second left, back) and the winning Curtis Cup team (image credit: The R&A).

Speaking to the media afterwards, Lorna, from Milngavie, reflected on her role in the win. She said: “I was just focusing on just one shot at a time, but you could sense the crowd building and it’s the most people I’ve ever played with. Knowing that most of them were cheering, I just kind of embraced it and soaked it all up. Yeah, really good.”

She added: “It's so crazy to believe that we actually won the Curtis Cup.

“It was by far the best week of my career and I'm sure it will remain one of the best for the rest of my life. The team environment was amazing, it was so special to have Catriona Matthew as our captain, she has so much experience and that's definitely something that each of us drew from.

“The fact that everyone in the team contributed and got a point makes it so cool too as it was a full team effort.”

Dean Robertson, Head of Golf at the University of Stirling, travelled to Sunningdale to support Lorna ahead of and during the competition. He said: “I am thrilled and so proud of Lorna – she was great.

“The Saturday afternoon fourball was the best I’ve seen her play – her driving was amazing, she was holing putts and her strategy was excellent; she scored a ton of birdies alongside Beth Coulter. And then, on the final day, it came down to the back end – to Lorna and Mimi Rhodes. Lorna was immense – very composed, clinical and put in an amazing performance.”

David Bond, Head of Performance Sport at the University of Stirling, said: “Congratulations to Lorna and the GB&I team on their historic win against the United States.

“Lorna has had a fantastic year, and her performance levels have been exceptional. For her to deliver crucial points for the team on the biggest stage was brilliant to watch, and no less than what she deserves for her hard work and commitment to excellence.

“Well done Lorna and team captain, Catriona Matthew."

Lorna won two of her three matches at the Curtis Cup - playing a key role in winning the trophy for GB&I (image credit: The R&A).

It was 3-3 after the first day of play – which saw three foursomes and three fourballs contested. Lorna and Mimi Rhodes paired up for the fourballs but lost out 5&4 to Jasmine Koo and Asterisk Talley. On day two, Lorna put in a phenomenal performance alongside Beth Coulter in the fourballs and overcame Anna Davis and Melanie Green 2&1 – with GB&I taking a 7-5 lead into the final day.

Despite the overnight lead, GB&I knew that they had to perform to their best to lift the trophy – particularly as the United States have dominated singles day at the past three Curtis Cups. Despite being behind in six matches at one stage, GB&I staged a fantastic comeback and the efforts of Lorna, Byrne, and Patience and Mimi Rhodes was enough to get them over the line.

The coveted Curtis Cup was attended by thousands of spectators and was screened live on Sky Sports (image credit: The R&A).

Speaking after the victory, GB&I captain and University of Stirling alumna Catriona Matthew said: “They're a fantastic team. I'm so proud of them. They really dug in every day and in every session. It didn't look as though it was perhaps going our way today, but they really toughed it out. It's just been a fantastic experience for me getting to know them and they were great. 

“My hat's off to the Americans as well. There was some fantastic golf on all three days, and it just made it a spectacle for women's golf. The golf this week really was quite amazing. I think the future of women's golf is in good hands.”

Lorna returns to the University this week to continue her training and will now begin her preparations for the Iberdrola Calatayud Ladies Open in Spain in October and the Spirit International Amateur Golf Championships in Texas in November.