Record crowds descend upon Nairn
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"When you are the home team there’s always a pressure on you, but it means the world to us to have done it at Nairn, especially in front of such a phenomenal support."
"I was always confident I would get the opportunities in my match. It was just about staying patient and then making sure I took them when they came along.
"It was awesome," she said. "Definitely the highlight of the year.
Meadow may have been cast in the role of hero as the point she gained confirmed Great Britain and Ireland’s win, but a triumph in the opening match by Kelly Tidy, who at one point found herself three down, helped pave the way for a famous victory.
"What makes it even more special for me is that we’ve done it playing in Scotland. It was a great experience and we received tremendous support."
"It’s unbelievable," she said. "It’s beyond my expectations.
For Pamela Pretswell, the only Scottish player to have made the this year’s Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup line-up, winning on home soil is a dream come true.
"It certainly seems to be a fortress for Great Britain and Ireland," said Asher. "They seem to enjoy coming here and we certainly enjoy having them."
In 1991, they lifted the Vagliano Trophy, while in 1999 the Americans were vanquished in the Walker Cup. This latest Curtis Cup triumph makes it an unwanted treble for the United States.
Nairn Golf Club has been a happy hunting ground for Great Britain and Ireland in competitions down the years.
"We can now look forward to the Home Internationals featuring Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales here in 2016, but for now I think it’s time to give the course back to our members for a while."
"We don’t get too many of the bigger events up here, but when they do come, they are always well supported.
"To see the crowd figures way above what they were at St Andrew’s four years ago just shows how much the Highlands values events such as the Curtis Cup.
"For everyone connected with organising and setting up the event, as well as the volunteers, it was wonderful to be repaid with such a fantastic result.
"Everyone that I spoke to enjoyed the course and while the weather was a bit iffy, we got away with it compared to the rest of the country.
"I was delighted with the way it went," said Asher. "We had record crowds and everyone enjoyed it.
It was a victory made all the sweeter by the fact that 9190 paying spectators attended over all three days, further vindication for all the hard work put in at Nairn by Asher and his committee, the greenkeeping staff and volunteers.
The United States simply could not cope, losing three out of the first four singles matches before Irish girl Stephanie Meadow eventually made sure the trophy would be Great Britain and Ireland’s.
After finding themselves at one point trailing 6-3 following the foursomes and fourballs, the home nations found the resolve from somewhere to come back and win the most prestigious trophy in women’s amateur golf for the first time since taking the prize at Killarney in 1996.
Great Britain and Ireland’s 10.5-9.5 victory is one that will live long in the memory as 3600 spectators descended upon the links course on day three to watch the action unfold.
Captain Tegwen Matthews are her eight-strong squad produced a quite magnificent display in the final day singles to eventually bring to an end a run of 16 years where the United States have triumphed.
A GREAT Britain and Ireland triumph, allied to record crowds, was reward enough for George Asher, chairman of Nairn Golf Club’s planning committee for the 37th Curtis Cup.
