Irish stars Sara Byrne, Beth Coulter and Aine Donegan will follow in the footsteps of their heroes of eight years ago as they tee it up in the 43rd Curtis Cup at Sunningdale Golf Club on Friday.
Great Britain and Ireland will be looking to arrest a wave of USA dominance in the biennial contest and are without a win since 2016 when the Irish trio of Maria Dunne, Olivia Mehaffey and Leona Maguire helped GB&I to a famous victory in Dun Laoghaire.
Watching on from the sidelines that week were Byrne (Douglas), Coulter (Kirkistown Castle) and Donegan (Lahinch) who were instantly inspired to one day emulate their heroes. This week they will walk the walk in a bid to stop USA winning a twelfth Curtis Cup in the last fourteen editions.
There is a famous photo from that week in Dun Laoghaire and the three girls have grown up playing golf together ever since.
Byrne and Coulter have represented Ireland in six Home Internationals together, three times in the girls’ competition and three in the women’s, while Donegan has joined for four.
“The three of us were at that Curtis Cup in Dún Laoghaire in 2016 and there’s a photo of me and Aine standing together,” Coulter, 20, said.
“Even just looking at that when we were selected, we sent it to each other and we were like ‘we’re going to do it together now’ so it is really cool. We are great friends, the three of us, and it is going to be really exciting.”
For Byrne, it will be the last hurrah of what has been a highly successful amateur career before making the step into the professional ranks.
“I knew it was always going to happen but when the call came in it was one of the coolest things ever, to have something you’ve wanted for so long to finally come true was amazing. It was a really, really good feeling to get the call,” said the Miami University graduate.
“I remember in 2016 we had the three players of Maria, Leona and Olivia. So, to have the three of us on it now is definitely a special feeling. We have grown up playing golf together, I have known Aine and Beth since we were like 12, even earlier probably.
“We have a photo together with the three of us in it from that week and it’s funny to look back on. I remember the week so vividly, I was in second year and I was just like this is so cool and I would love to play in this someday.
“To finally be playing in it, it’s funny looking back on that week because it’s all coming true.
“To be able to experience that kind of week with them will make it even more special.”
The 23-year old has already impressed in team golf this season, playing for the International side in the Arnold Palmer Cup in Lahinch in July before helping Ireland to a Home Internationals win earlier this month.
But her big goal for the season was to earn a spot on Catriona Matthew’s Curtis Cup side and bow out of amateur golf on her own terms.
“This summer has really been my last ever amateur summer. Having the Women’s Amateur in Portmarnock, getting to play Palmer Cup to wrap up a great college career and to have it on in Ireland.
“To finish it off with a Curtis Cup I could not have asked for a better ending to an amateur career really.”
The Curtis Cup clashes with the KPMG Women’s Irish Open this week in Carton House but if Byrne, Coulter and Donegan needed validation on the pathway that some former players can take is that Lauren Walsh and Annabel Wilson will make their professional debuts in their home open on Thursday.
Both players played in the 2021 edition while Walsh made a second appearance in 2022.
“It’s incredible. I texted all the girls that the Curtis Cup is one of the best weeks of your life,” said Walsh. “Definitely the standout event of my amateur career. It’s such a special week to represent Great Britain and Ireland on the biggest stage, especially at a venue like Sunningdale. I hope they enjoy every moment and soak it all up.
“I met Catriona Matthew in our last training for the Curtis Cup and she will be a really great captain. I will be wishing them all the best of luck and I hope they can get it done.”