Championships - Curtis Cup 2008
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Mary McKenna Captain Curtis Cup Team.
04.12.2007
GB & I Training Squad gather for last time before Curtis Cup Selection
Stirling University's men's golf team beat 8 members of the Ladies' Golf Union training squad 2 1/2-1 1/2 in a friendly match over the St Andrews New Course today.Mary McKenna, who will lead the Great Britain & Ireland team in the Curtis Cup match against the United States over the Old Course at the end of next May, said: "It was a great match, very good practice over the New course which is in great condition. It was very cold with some rain at the end but most enjoyable."
Results (Stirling University names first):
Graham Turner & David Booth beat Naomi Edwards (Ganton) & Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale) 1 hole.
Colin Thompson & Peter Keerling lost to Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) & Breanne Loucks (Wrexham) 6 holes.
Karl Shepherd & Michael Daly halved with Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) & Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton).
Pat Bryon Campbell & Matthew D'Argy beat Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) & Henrietta Brockway (Yeovil) 1 hole.
Eight members of the LGU Squad will assemble in St Andrews this weekend, 6-9 December, for pre match practice, ahead of selection for the 2008 Curtis Cup, which will be played for the first time over the Old Course, St Andrews, 30 May - 1 June. USA based players will attend a one-day training session on 19 December.
The Curtis Cup hopefuls will play a match on the New Course against a team from Stirling University on this, the last training session before selection.
Captain Mary McKenna said, “ Match practice and good competition is very important at this stage and it is great to have a competitive game in St Andrews. With the help of our coach Lawrence Farmer, we will be working mainly on the short game and course management.
“Several of the Squad will be competing in the Orange Blossom tour in Florida in the New Year, while most of the home based players will also compete in the Spanish Championship (27 February - 2 March). US based players will be competing in Collegiate events. We will be looking at results over the winter, as well as past performances when we come to select the GB&I Curtis Cup team in early March”.
In addition to golf practice at the training session, one of the most successful GB & I Curtis Cup players, Julie Otto (Hall), will be spending time with the squad giving advice and sharing her experiences. Julie, twice British Amateur Champion, participated in five Curtis Cups from 1988-1996.
Following the departure of Melissa Reid (Chevin), Rachel Bell (Ganton) and Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) to the professional ranks, the squad includes the experience of 2006 Curtis Cup team members Tara Delaney, Naomi Edwards and Breanne Loucks.
Also named are 2007 Vagliano team members, Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor), Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) and Kerry Smith (Waterlooville).
While most of the players selected for the match at St Andrews may be those with extensive international experience, the way is clear for younger players to impress the selectors. Sally Watson (Elie & Earlsferry), Henrietta Brockway (Yeovil) and Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale), members of this year’s successful Junior Solheim Cup team must already be in contention for selection.
The Curtis Cup was first played in 1932 and is a biennial match between the lady amateurs of Great Britain & Ireland and the United States.
Squad:
Liz Bennett, 25, Brokenhurst Manor
Carly Booth, 15, Comrie
Henrietta Brockway, 17, Yeovil
Krystle Caithness, 18, St Regulus
Tara Delaney, 21, Carlow
Naomi Edwards, 24, Ganton
Jodi Ewart, 19, Catterick
Sahra Hassan, 20, Vale of Glamorgan
Rachel Jennings, 19, Izaak Walton
Breanne Loucks, 20, Wrexham
Danielle McVeigh, 20, Royal County Down
Florentyna Parker, 18, Royal Birkdale
Kerry Smith, 35, Waterlooville
Michele Thomson, 19, McDonald Ellon
Sally Watson, 16, Elie & Earlsferry Ladies
Captain, Mary McKenna; Manager, Tegwen Matthews; Coach, Lawrence Farmer.
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