1958 Curtis Cup

Golf competition in Newton, Massachusetts November 2023 March 2026 Curtis Cup 1958 August 8–9, 1958 Brae Burn Country Club Newton, Massachusetts USGAJuly 1958 Youth versus experience in Curtis Cup https://gsrpdf.lib.msu.edu/?file=/1950s/1958/580708.pdf 8 USGA Journal and Turf Management and The R&A USA British Isles Virginia Dennehy Daisy Ferguson 4 4 British Isles retains The 10th Curtis Cup Match was played on August 8 and 9, 1958 at Brae Burn Country Club in Newton, Massachusetts. The Americans were the "slight favourites" though the British team arrived optimistic. They were the defending champions and possessed an experienced squad against the American team, made up primarily by college students and recent grads. The British indeed opened the tournament well, winning two of the three opening foursome matches. During the final singles matches, however, a heatwave encompassing Boston region had effects on the British team; there seemed "little hope for success" after the morning round. However, a rally led by Angela Bonallack and Frances Smith reversed fortunes and British team managed to tie, thereby retaining the cup as defending champions. Smith, a grieving widow with a newborn child, returned to England a "heroine" by virtue of earning the winning point. Format The contest was played over two days, with three foursomes on the first day and six singles matches on the second day, a total of 9 points. Matches were over 36 holes. Each of the 9 matches was worth one point in the larger team competition. If a match was all square after the 36th hole extra holes were not played. Rather, each side earned a point toward their team total. The team that accumulated at least 5 points won the competition. In the case of a tie, the team that won the previous tournament retained the cup, in this case the British and Irish team. Teams USA 70px   United StatesNameNotesVirginia Dennehynon-playing captainMeriam BaileyJoAnne GundersonAnn Casey JohnstoneBarbara McIntireAnne RichardsonPolly Rileyplayed in 1948, 1950, 1952, 1954 and 1956Barbara Romackplayed in 1954 and 1956Anne Quast Meriam Bailey and Anne Richardson did not play in any matches. Source: GBR 70px & IRL 70px   British IslesNameNotesNIR Daisy Fergusonplaying captain ENG Angela Bonallackplayed in 1956 ENG Bridget Jackson ENG Elizabeth Priceplayed in 1950, 1952, 1954 and 1956 SCO Janette Robertsonplayed in 1954 and 1956 ENG Frances Smithplayed in 1950, 1952, 1954 and 1956 SCO Dorothea Sommerville SCO Jessie Valentineplayed in 1936, 1938, 1950, 1952, 1954 and 1956 Dorothea Sommerville did not play in any matches. Sources: Tournament summary In January, the Ladies' Golf Union international asked 11 British and Irish women if they were available to be selected for the upcoming Curtis Cup team.January 24, 1958 Miss Bisgood asked to stand by for Curtis Cup https://www.newspapers.com/image/1190203222/ subscription 2025-11-30 The Daily Echo 28 en-US Newspapers.com Ten of the 11 that they asked affirmed they were interested; only one golfer, Jeanne Bisgood, declined the opportunity.February 1, 1958 Curtis Cup: Nine accept invitation https://www.newspapers.com/image/880499282/ subscription 2025-12-03 The Guardian Journal 6 en-US Newspapers.com Pat Ward-Thomas, writing for The Guardian, noted that Angela Bonallack and Janette Robertson "would seem to be certain choices."Ward-Thomas Pat April 30, 1958 Difficult Task Faces Curtis Cup Selectors: Question of whom to leave out https://www.newspapers.com/image/259473789/ subscription 2025-11-30 The Manchester Guardian 8 en-US Newspapers.com However, he was suspicious about selecting Philomena Garvey for the team. He noted that she had a poor Curtis Cup record and that she "rarely has shown the resolution and character expected of a player of her class." He also suggested that the committee should pick Frances Smith as well as Elizabeth Price as they were indispensable for the British and Irish team when they won the 1956 Curtis Cup. In May, the Ladies' Golf Union announced their first four selections. Bonallack and Robertson were indeed selected. Price was also one of the first four picks. Garvey was among the first four selected too.May 15, 1958 Four named for Curtis Cup https://www.newspapers.com/image/1260979658/ subscription 2025-11-30 The Eastern Evening News 28 en Newspapers.com Smith, however, was not immediately chosen. Smith herself was not expecting to be selected for the team. She was tending a newborn child, had not played much competitive golf recently, and was grieving the loss of her husband, a pilot killed in a plane crash months earlier.Roberts Ernie August 10, 1958 English Widow Golf Favorite https://www.newspapers.com/image/433647637/ subscription 2025-11-16 The Boston Sunday Globe 56 en-US Newspapers.com In June, however, it was announced that Smith was among the final three selections along with Jessie Valentine and Dorothea Sommerville.June 26, 1958 Curtis Cup Team is Completed https://www.newspapers.com/image/987128999/ subscription 2025-11-30 Liverpool Daily Post 9 en Newspapers.com Bridget Jackson was declared a reserve.June 28, 1958 Champions Quits Curtis Cup Team Over Badge Row https://www.newspapers.com/image/867931973/?match=1&terms=%22curtis%20cup%22 subscription 2025-11-30 Evening Sentinel 1 en Newspapers.com Days after the final picks, however, Philomena Garvey announced her resignation. She was distraught that only the flag of the United Kingdom, the Union Jack, would be sewn onto their jackets. The flag of her country, The Republic of Ireland, would not be visible. The Irish Ladies Golf Union supported her decision. Englishwoman Bridget Jackson, the reserve, replaced her. In July, the Americans selected their team. Curtis Cup veterans Polly Riley, from Texas, and Californian Barbara Romack, were among the top picks.July 2, 1958 Riley, Romack Named On Curtis Cup Team https://www.newspapers.com/image/326654985/ subscription 2025-11-30 The Tampa Tribune 23 en-US Newspapers.com However, most of the selections skewed young. 19-year-old JoAnne Gunderson, a sophomore at Arizona State University, was the youngest player ever to participate for the team.July 4, 1958 Curtis Cup Place For Woman, 19 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1190197667/ subscription 2025-11-30 The Daily Echo 7 en Newspapers.comAugust 9, 1958 British Take 2-1 Lead In Curtis Cup Matches https://www.newspapers.com/image/828675101/ subscription 2025-12-06 Richmond Times-Dispatch 12 en-US Newspapers.com In addition, Anne Quast, also playing in her first Curtis Cup, was just a junior at Stanford University. Barbara McIntire, a 23-year-old Floridian, was another rookie member. 37-year-old Ann Casey Johnstone was the only middle-aged novice on the team. The tournament was held at Brae Burn Country Club in Newton, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston, in early August.January 19, 1958 Award Curtis Cup Matches To Club at Newton, Mass. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1082321552/ subscription 2025-11-30 The Patriot-News 33 en-US Newspapers.com On the first day of the month, the British team arrived in Boston.August 2, 1958 Curtis Cup Team in America https://www.newspapers.com/image/940706150/ subscription 2025-11-15 Huddersfield Daily Examiner 6 en-US Newspapers.com They were intending to win the tournament for the first time in the United States.August 2, 1958 British Here, Defend Curtis Cup https://www.newspapers.com/image/177648192/ subscription 2025-11-15 The Philadelphia Inquirer 14 en-US Newspapers.com The Associated Press noted that "this could be the year" for the British.August 3, 1958 Curtis Golf Matches Set https://www.newspapers.com/image/375976709/ subscription 2025-11-15 The Baltimore Sun 5D en-US Newspapers.com Five of their seven players played on the 1956 winning team; the United States only had two players from the previous squad. In addition, this was the first time the British and Irish team traveled by plane shortening the transatlantic voyage by a week and providing more time for practice.Wilson Enid August 4, 1958 British Team Take 5 1/2 Hours To Go Round https://www.newspapers.com/image/832079853/ subscription 2025-11-15 The Daily Telegraph 3 en-US Newspapers.com However, the Americans were considered "slight favourites" to win the tournament.August 8, 1958 British Girls Confident https://www.newspapers.com/image/1212593520/ subscription 2025-11-16 Dorset Echo 7 en-US Newspapers.com The Americans were considered, in general, the stronger team. In addition, they "had the advantage of playing in their home country." Lastly, the temperatures in the Boston area were hotter than they were for a typical summer and the British team was unaccustomed to such intense conditions.August 5, 1958 Curtis Cup Girls Find It Hot https://www.newspapers.com/image/1209157126/ subscription 2025-11-16 Worcester News 1 en-US Newspapers.com Early in the practice week, it was noted by an American journalist that "the British squad... had been visibility affected by a blistering sun in temperatures which have into the 90s."August 5, 1958 British Girls Begin Drills - Weather May Be a Factor https://www.newspapers.com/image/600614436/ subscription 2025-11-16 The Shreveport News A 11 en-US Newspapers.com Meanwhile, the American team, many from warm weather states, were acclimated to such conditions. The first round was played in the foursomes, or "alternate play," format.Fitzgerald Tom August 9, 1958 Invaders Pace Yanks https://www.newspapers.com/image/433646232/ subscription 2025-11-16 The Boston Globe 11-12 en Newspapers.com The "oppressive, humid conditions" persisted.August 9, 1958 Britain wins two foursomes in Curtis Cup match https://www.newspapers.com/image/259499232/ subscription 2025-11-16 The Guardian 6 en-US Newspapers.com The "top match" fared English golfers Angela Bonallack and Elizabeth Price against Americans Barbara Romack and Polly Riley. It was a "seesaw struggle" where neither pair was able to break away.August 9, 1958 Angela Bonallack collapses but Britain lead in the Curtis Cup https://www.newspapers.com/image/789224533/ subscription 2025-11-16 Daily Herald 8 en-US Newspapers.com The British took a 2 up lead after the opening nine and maintained it after 18 holes. On the 4th hole of the afternoon round, however, Bonallack "fainted" and needed the assistance of a doctor. She was able to recover but this "jolted" the British pair; and they lost three consecutive holes to lose the lead. Around the turn, however, the British won a number of holes and it was all square entering the 15th. There the big "break-through" occurred. Riley hit an "over-bold chip shot" and the American pair recorded a bogey while the British made a routine par to take the lead for good. In the second match British pair Janette Robertson and Frances Smith took a 5 up lead after the morning round. They "never looked in danger of defeat" against JoAnne Gunderson and Anne Quast, ultimately winning 3 & 2. The final match presented Americans Barbara McIntire and Ann Casey Johnstone against Jessie Valentine and Bridget Jackson. The Americans opened with a "comedy of errors" on the first hole with a number of terrible shots; they ultimately recorded a "X," forfeiting the hole. But for the remainder of the match the "consistent" Americans absolutely dominated. At the turn of the morning round, they had taken the lead. In the middle of the match they began exhibiting play, in the words of The Daily Telegraph, that was "distinctly inhuman."Wilson Enid British Women Golfers Make Good Start https://www.newspapers.com/image/832079913/ subscription 2025-11-16 The Daily Telegraph 3 en-US Newspapers.com McIntire and Johnstone ultimately recorded eight birdies to win 6 & 5. This was the Americans' lone point; they were behind 2–1 after the first round. The final day's singles matches were announced later in the evening. Frances Smith would be facing Polly Riley in the final match. The Daily Telegraph Enid Wilson surmised, "Perhaps the match between Mrs. Smith and Miss Riley will be the deciding factor, as it was two years ago." During the singles matches, the British and Irish team secured the cup, "the chief heroine" being Englishwoman Frances Smith.Wilson Enid August 10, 1958 Curtis Cup Halved https://www.newspapers.com/image/257881645/ subscription 2025-11-16 The Observer 16 en-US Newspapers.com However, it looked like a "black day" for their team at the onset. According to The Daily Telegraph the "heat and high humidity of the previous day" seemed to have residual effects.Wilson Enid August 11, 1958 Mrs. Smith's Brilliant Pitch Saves Britain https://www.newspapers.com/image/832079926/ subscription 2025-11-17 The Daily Telegraph 4 en-US Newspapers.com The British team's play "was distinctly scrappy over the first nine holes." At lunch, after the first 18 holes, the Americans led in four of the six matches and were tied in another.August 11, 1958 Encouraging Record https://www.newspapers.com/image/784958657/ subscription 2025-12-02 The Birmingham Post 4 en-US Newspapers.com Scotswoman Janette Robertson was the only Briton to lead. There seemed "little hope for success." After lunch, however, the British team played better. Star player Angela Bonallack was 4 down with only eight holes remaining but rallied, winning the four holes on the back nine to halve her match with Barbara McIntire. Jessie Valentine "lagged" behind most of the day behind JoAnne Gunderson but, like Bonallack, rallied to tie her on the back nine. However, she lost the final two holes to lose 2 up. Robertson, the only British leader at the halfway point, "finished strongly" to defeat Ann Casey Johnstone 3 & 2.August 11, 1958 Britain retains Curtis Cup after great struggle https://www.newspapers.com/image/259499403/ subscription 2025-11-16 The Guardian 6 en Newspapers.com However, Elizabeth Price and Bridget Jackson were unable to overcome significant halfway deficits and both ultimately lost on the 34th hole. The tournament came down to the final match, between Polly Riley and Frances Smith, as it had at the 1956 Curtis Cup.Fitzgerald Tom August 10, 1958 British Girls Tie U.S. To Keep Curtis Cup https://www.newspapers.com/image/433647637/ subscription 2025-11-16 The Boston Sunday Globe 53-56 en-US Newspapers.com Like her compatriots, Smith struggled in the morning; however, she managed to tie by lunch and ultimately led 1 up going into the final hole. On the 36th hole, Smith "drove straight down the fairway" and made the green in regulation. Riley played the hole poorly and had yet to reach the green in three shots. Riley "made a wonderful bid on a chip of at least 40 feet" for par but just missed. Smith finished with a routine par to defeat her 2 up. With her win, the teams tied 4 to 4. In an event of a tie, the most recent champion retained the cup; in this case, it was the British, and Smith's win proved decisive. The British team's victory was referred to as a "historic performance" by The Observer. It was the first time the British and Irish Curtis Cup team had secured the cup while playing in the United States. In fact, it was the "first British team, Walker, Ryder or Curtis Cup to come away from the United States undefeated." Pat Ward-Thomas of The Guardian singled out Smith for her extraordinary play. He wrote "in all the long story of international contests there has never been a greater competitor, man or woman," given her nearly undefeated record. It was also deemed "a story-book finish" as Smith was the sentimental favorite after the recent death of her husband. Smith returned home a "heroine."August 11, 1958 Encouraging Record https://www.newspapers.com/image/784958657/ subscription 2025-11-17 The Birmingham Post 4 en-US Newspapers.com The Liverpool Daily Post greeted her at the airport. Her image and a story about her were featured on the front page of the newspaper. Smith's immediate plans were to tend to her daughter and then prepare for the English Women's Amateur Championship, held later in the summer. Friday's foursomes matches GBR 50px & IRL 50px Results USA 50pxBonallack/PriceGBRIRL 2 & 1Romack/RileyRobertson/SmithGBRIRL 3 & 2Gunderson/QuastJackson/ValentineUSA 6 & 5McIntyre/Johnstone 2 Session 1 2 Overall 1 18-hole scores: Bonallack/Price 2 up, Robertson/Smith 5 up, McIntyre/Johnstone 5 up Source: Saturday's singles matches GBR 50px & IRL 50px Results USA 50pxJessie ValentineUSA 2 upJoAnne GundersonAngela BonallackhalvedBarbara McIntireElizabeth PriceUSA 4 & 2Anne QuastJanette RobertsonGBRIRL 3 & 2Ann Casey JohnstoneBridget JacksonUSA 4 & 2Barbara RomackFrances SmithGBRIRL 2 upPolly Riley 2 Session 3 4 Overall 4 18-hole scores: Gunderson 2 up, McIntire 1 up, Quast 3 up, Robertson 5 up, Romack 2 up, Smith/Riley all square Source: References 42.337 N 71.234 W type:event title Category:Curtis Cup Category:Golf tournaments in Massachusetts Category:Women's sports in Massachusetts Curtis Cup Curtis Cup Curtis Cup Curtis Cup