The US line-up for the  the best known team trophy for women amateur golfers appeared stronger than that of 2016, and that soon became evident at Quaker Ridge Golf Club as Kristen Gillman led the charge for the home team, winning both her matches.

In the morning’s foursomes, she and Lauren Stephenson beat Paula Grant and Lily May Humphreys 4 and 2, and in the afternoon’s four-ball she teamed up with World Amateur Golf's number one-ranked Lilia Vu to defeat Alice Hewson and Lily May Humphreys 4 and 3.

Gillman and Vu registered eight birdies and no bogeys, with the former player sealing the match on the 15th hole with a 15-foot downhill birdie putt.

Olivia Mehaffey, the Curtis Cup veteran and the highest ranked player on the GB&I team at number 16, got her team off to a winning start in company with Sophie Lamb as they beat Mariel Galdano and Andrea Lee 3 and 2.

But then Vu and Jennifer Kupcho beat Hewson and India Clyburn 2 up before Stephenson and Gillman tipped the scoring the home way.

Gillman and Kupcho are now due to play the first weekend four-ball match against Olivia Mehaffey and partner Sophie Lamb.

Mehaffey and Lamb also impressed in the afternoon as they came back from a 3-down deficit after 12 holes to halve their four-ball match against Kupcho and Lucy Li.

After Gillman and Vu’s winning flourish, Grant and Shannon McWilliam halved their four-ball with Stephenson and Sophia Schubert.

Gillman and Kupcho will now play the first weekend four-ball match against Mehaffey and Lamb.

"Two years ago USA had every single player in the top-20 in the world, and we managed to win then," said an upbeat Mehaffey.

"If you get fired up and you really thrive off match play, I don’t really feel like ranking plays a part."