June 13, 2004

FORMBY, England (AP) - Michelle Wie helped the United States win its fourth straight Curtis Cup on Sunday with a 10-8 victory over Britain-Ireland.

The Americans have won the biennial amateur competition 24 of the 33 times it has been played. European and British teams already hold the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup and Walker Cup.

The 14-year-old Wie beat Nicola Timmins 6 and 5 to give the United States a 7-6 lead. Wie, the youngest player in Curtis Cup history, is part of a U.S. team that doesn't have a player over 22.

"I played lights out," Wie said. "I hit the fairways, didn't miss the greens much. I played really well."

Paula Creamer won her singles Sunday afternoon and Jane Park lost hers. Then Elizabeth Janangelo beat Shelley McKevitt 1-up to give the United States an insurmountable 9-7 lead.

"I had played well in my earlier matches," said Janangelo, who lost two previous matches. "I just hadn't won. I'm just so happy my captain had the confidence to put me in."

Claire Coughlan beat Brittany Lang, but Annie Thurman downed Danielle Masters for an outright win.

"Both sides played well, but we just happened to squeeze in an extra putt or two," U.S. captain Martha Kirouac said.

Wie, Creamer, Thurman each won two singles matches.

Kirouac said she was initially concerned about fielding such a young team.

"But then I got comfortable with the abilities they have," she added.

Britain-Ireland won two of three alternate shots Sunday morning to tie it up at 6. Wie and Janangelo lost to Coughlan and Anne Laing 3 and 2 when Coughlan holed the winning downhill putt from 6 feet on the 16th green.

"We put ourselves into a hole in the foursomes," Kirouac said. "But we have a very competitive arena in junior and college golf at home. That's why we're so tough in singles."

Emma Duggleby, Britain and Ireland's 32-year-old veteran, scored her third victory as she and McKevitt beat Erica Blasberg and Sarah Huarte 2 and 1. Thurman and Lang led from the second hole as they beat Timmins and Masters 5 and 4.

Wie and Janangelo started well with birdies at the first and third holes. But they made bogeys to lose the next three.

Coughlan and Laing won three successive holes from the 10th and though Wie and Janangelo won the 15th, it ended on the next green.

"She's up and coming and no doubt going to be No. 1 in the world, so it's a great feeling," Coughlan said, referring to Wie. "On the last putt, I just told myself to pick the line and go with the line. Putting is generally the best part of my game, so I'm very happy."