Fri May 30 15:42:51 2008

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U.S. takes 4-2 Curtis Cup lead

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St. Andrews, Scotland (Sports Network) - Bolstered by two wins apiece from Amanda Blumenherst and Stacy Lewis, the United States took a 4-2 lead over Great Britain & Ireland after the first day of the Curtis Cup matches on Friday.

Seeking their sixth straight victory in this amateur international competition, the Americans got off to a good start by winning two matches in both sessions on Friday -- the morning foursomes and afternoon fourballs.

Blumenherst and Lewis capped off the day with a 3 & 1 victory over Florentyna Parker and Elizabeth Bennett in the last fourball match.

In the foursomes matches, Blumenherst teamed with Tiffany Joh for a 1-up win over Breanne Loucks and Parker, while Lewis paired with Alison Walshe for a 3 & 1 victory over Bennett and Jodi Ewart.

Sally Watson and Michele Thompson picked up their team's first point with a 1- up win over Americans Mina Harigae and Jennie Lee in the other foursomes match.

Harigae later teamed with Kimberly Kim to win the first afternoon fourball match, 3 & 2 over Thomson and Carly Booth, to extend the Americans' lead to 3-1.

Watson picked up her second point -- and helped bring GB&I within 3-2 -- while joining Krystle Caithness in a 3 & 2 victory over Joh and Meghan Bolger in the second fourball match.

But the closing victory by Blumenherst and Lewis extended the Americans' lead back to two points again.

The U.S. team won the last Curtis Cup in 2006 by an 11 1/2 - 6 1/2 score, extending its all-time lead in the series to 25-6-3.

This year's competition is being held on the storied Old Course at St. Andrews.