The Irish duo of Leona Maguire and Stepheanie Meadow has paid a heavy price of being dropped from the afternoon Fourballs following their shock opening round nightmare at Nairn on day one of the Curtis Cup.

The pair were handed a 5 & 4 drubbing in the morning Foursomes at the hands of the USA pair of Lindy Duncan and Lisa McCloskey in overcast and windy conditions at Nairn in northern Scotland.

Leona Maguire (back right) & Stephanie Meadow (front right) handed a 5 & 4 drubbing on day one of the Curtis Cup.

The 17-year old Maguire came into the biannual competition having walked away with an eight-shot victory in the Irish Under-18 Girls Open Stroke Play Championship.

However the pair were never in their match being an incredible 6 down at the turn.

The USA team dominated winning all three opening round matches.

The duo of Austin Ernst and Brooke Pancake set the tone winning their first match 1 up against the GB & I pairing of Kelly Tidy and Amy Boulden.

Amy Anderson and Tiffany Lua combined to win 2 & 1 against GB & I rivals Holly Clyburn and Bronte Law.

GB & I captain, Tegwen Matthews had asked for a ‘fast start’ in a goal to end a USA domination that has seen the Stars and Stripes win the last seven Curtis Cup encounters.

“I’m afraid that wasn’t the fast start we wanted,” she said.

“It’s disappointing.  There was some good golf played out but the Americans were just that bit sharper than us on and around the greens.”