JOY at personal achievement was tempered by defeat for Malton and Norton golfer Emma Duggleby after her Curtis Cup debut.

The 28-year-old won both her singles and won and halved her foursomes matches for Great Britain and Ireland but they slipped to a 10-8 defeat at the hands of the USA at Ganton.

The Great Britain and Ireland produced a stirring comeback in the final singles, but failed to take the trophy.

They had left themselves a mountain to climb after trailing 7-2 following the first day but reduced the deficit to four points following the second day's morning play.

But they needed five and a half points out of a possible six in the singles and just fell short, losing in the end by 10-8.

"It's been an exciting day - I knew we had a mountain to climb but thought it was just possible. It didn't happen but the team played the sort of golf today which we all know they are capable of," said Great Britain and Ireland captain Claire Dowling.

USA skipper Jane Booth admitted that her team had been outplayed in the final singles but was delighted that they had hung on to retain the trophy.

It was when a 12-foot putt by Yorkshire's Rebecca Hudson lipped the cup and stayed out to give her rival Beth Bauer a last-green success that the Americans had secured the nine points necessary to keep the trophy.

"It's a disaster really, especially after getting so close," said Hudson, who plays out of Doncaster club Wheatley.

"We really felt we had a chance, we felt we could come back but after Saturday it left us with too much to do. Today though we attacked everything and the golf was so much better. We had been too defensive on the first day."

But for Yorkshire and England champion Duggleby disappointment was tempered by her own strong showing.

"I didn't feel nervous once I got going and I've loved it," said Duggleby.

"I have played in front of hundreds before, but there were 8,000 on Saturday and 9,000 yesterday and it was fantastic to get applauded on to every green.

"I am just hoping that I can be in the team again when we play in Pennsylvania in two years time."

Duggleby partnered Suzanne O'Brien in the foursomes and, after halving with Hilary Homeyer and Virginia Derby-Grimes on Saturday, they scored a seven and six success yesterday against Stephanie Keever and Angela Stanford. In the singles she saw off Homeyer on Saturday by one hole and then followed that by putting on the Sunday best to beat Keever four and two.

Duggleby will now be aiming to maintain her strong form later this week as she travels to Walton for the British Championships which start this week.

"I am really looking forward to it and I am going down with every intention of enjoying it," said Duggleby.

Picture-PROBLEM SOLVING: Malton and Norton's Emma Duggleby (right) and Suzanne O'Brien peer out from a tricky position on the 16th fairway at Ganton during their halved foursomes in the Curtis Cup, while Doncaster's Rebecca Hudson, inset, can't hide her feelings after being beaten on the last hole of her match with America's Beth Bauer.