Ireland’s Leona Maguire and England’s Bronte Law helped Great Britain and Ireland get off to the ideal start before the United States fought back to finish the first day of the 39th Curtis Cup on level terms.

The home side won the opening foursomes session 2-1 at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club and moved further ahead when Law and Maguire combined to win the first fourball match against Bethany Wu and Sierra Brooks.

However, world number one Hannah O’Sullivan and Mariel Galdiano defeated Olivia Mehaffey and Charlotte Thomas on the 18th green and Bailey Tardy and Monica Vaughn won 2&1 against Meghan MacLaren and Alice Hewson to make the score 3-3.

Tardy and Vaughn had earlier fought back from three down after eight holes to beat MacLaren and Maria Dunne in the foursomes and prevent the visitors from suffering a whitewash in the opening session.

Law and Mehaffey beat O’Sullivan and Galdiano 2&1 in the opening contest, although world number two Maguire and Thomas actually put the first point on the board with a 4&2 win over Andrea Lee and Mika Liu.

The United States has won eight of the last nine contests between the top female amateurs from both sides of the Atlantic, although Great Britain and Ireland did taste victory in the last home tie at Nairn in 2012.