Kentucky's Jensen Castle wins Curtis Cup

Kentucky’s Jensen Castle, along with Team USA Women’s Golf, has won the 2021 Curtis Cup. Castle and Team USA rallied late in the match against Great Britain and Ireland after trailing 4.5-1.5.

Castle, a junior on Kentucky’s women’s golf team, had a direct hand in the win, bringing the team from behind on Friday to even the score heading into Saturday.

After being named the 2021 U.S. Women’s Amateur Golf Champion, Castle led Team USA to their first victory on British soil since 2008.

Can’t wait to welcome back our @CurtisCup champ, @jensen_castle, in a couple of days. 🇺🇸

📸 @USGA pic.twitter.com/dGtIv90tV1

— Kentucky Women’s Golf (@KentuckyWGolf) August 28, 2021

Never Say Die

With a notoriously optimistic attitude, Jensen Castle defeated the 25th ranked amateur women’s golfer Hannah Darling. This direct matchup put Team USA within a half-point reach of victory.

“It was awesome,” said Castle. “It was just a battle the whole time and I just kept trying. I was never out of it.”

Despite recently recovering from a rib injury, Castle made her presence known at the match, as she had before.

This comeback was familiar to those who know Castle. Castle defeated the 2021 NCAA Individual Champion Rachel Heck in order to become the Women’s Amateur Golf Champion earlier this year.

With that title, Castle was invited to become a member of Team USA, the first amateur winner to do so.

A month ago, @jensen_castle wasn't even sure she could swing a club with a rib injury.

Then she went on to win the U.S. Women's Amateur, made the @CurtisCup and now she's a Team USA champion.

What a month. What a run. https://t.co/lVON0w9Mnb

— Kentucky Women’s Golf (@KentuckyWGolf) August 28, 2021

Castle is also the first amateur champion in school history.

Castle at Kentucky

Castle is set to have an exciting junior year at Kentucky. On Friday, she was named on the preseason watchlist for the ANNIKA Award, presented to the player of the year in women’s college golf.

She is the most decorated signee at Kentucky in school history, and has held true to the title. Castle is also the first Kentucky golfer to play in the Curtis Cup.

Within the last two seasons, Castle has had 17 appearances, seven top-20 finishes, as well as a 73.6 stroke average.

In her freshman season, Castle led Kentucky to two championships and set the program’s single-season scoring record with 71.9 strokes per round.

Kentucky is ranked at 23 in the preseason WGCA Coaches Poll and 24 in the preseason GolfChannel.com ranking.

Castle and the rest of the Wildcats begin their season September 13-14 at the Wolverine Invitational in Ann Arbor, Michigan.