News

19th April 2004

GB & I Curtis Cup Team Announced

Emma Duggleby, 32, a member of both the 2000 and 2002 Curtis Cup teams plus Fame More, 22, from the 2002 side, have again been selected for the biennial match against the United States at Formby Golf Club on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th June.

The six players making their debuts in the contest and completing the team of eight are Claire Coughlan, 24, Anna Highgate, 21, Anne Laing, 29, Danielle Masters, 21, Shelley McKevitt, 24, and Nicola Timmins, 23.

Emma Duggleby, Anne Laing, Danielle Masters and Fame More were all members of the team that regained the Vagliano Trophy in last year’s match against the Continent of Europe at County Louth.

In giving details of the eight players selected for the side, Ada O’Sullivan, Captain of the GB&I team said: "We undoubtedly have a very solid team with a nucleus of players experienced at playing at the highest level. Furthermore, in the run-up to this announcement we have pushed Elite Squad players to the limit with matches against two mens’ county sides plus that great win against the LET professionals in the Weetabix Challenge on Saturday. The results from these matches have left me in no doubt that our eight players can, on the day, produce a performance worthy of bringing the Curtis Cup back to home soil."

Claire Coughlan, 24, a Cork based Irish International for many years, has underlined her ability in match play by winning the Irish Ladies Close Championship in 1999 and reaching the semi final stage last year at Donegal. In 2003 she also won the Irish Stroke Play title.

Emma Duggleby, 32, is certainly the most experienced player in the side with a record of four wins, three defeats and one half from the 2000 and 2002 Curtis Cup matches. Last year she added a second English Ladies’ title to her achievements, led the English Order of Merit and already this year has taken second place in the South Atlantic Championship.

Anna Highgate, 21, a full time amateur from Bridgend, first played at International level for the Welsh girls’ team in 1997 and since 1999 has been a full Welsh International. In addition to the Home Internationals, she has represented her country in European events and in 2003 played for GB in the Commonwealth Tournament. She won her county championship for the three years, 2001 – 2003.

Anne Laing, 29, a lecturer in golf and sports studies, plays most of her golf at Vale of Leven and has twice, in 1996 and 2003 been Scottish Amateur Champion. Last year’s win at the Old Course, St Andrews capped a highly successful season in which she topped the Scottish Order of Merit and played in the Vagliano Trophy and the Commonwealth Tournament

Danielle Masters, at 21, from Maidstone, is one of the younger members of the team and first came to the notice of selectors with her wins in the English Under–21 and Under–23 Championships. After making steady progress, she led the qualifiers in the 2003 Ladies’ British Championship at Lindrick and was rewarded last year with a place in the team for the Vagliano Trophy.

Shelley McKevitt is a 24-year-old from Reading who studied sport and exercise science at the University of North Carolina. She lifted her first major title in 1997 when she won the English Girls’ Championship and from 1998 till 2003, played most of her competitive golf at college in America. In 2003 she had a single shot win in the Ladies’ British Stroke Play Championship, won the New Zealand Women’s Amateur Championship and reached the semi final stage of the English Match Play Championship at Aldeburgh. She also represented GB in the Commonwealth Tournament.

Fame More, 22, has represented GB&I since the 2001 Vagliano Trophy match in which she won all four matches. She also played two years later at County Louth and in the Curtis Cup in 2002 at Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania. In 2003 she finished fourth in the Ladies British Stroke Play and reached the quarter finals of both the Ladies’ British Match Play and English Match Play Championships.

Nicola Timmins, 23, is a maths teacher at Pent Valley Technology College, and manages to combine top level amateur golf with her career in education. In 2003 she was selected to play for England in the Home Internationals and the European Championships and in the same year won the English Ladies’ Intermediate Championship at Notts Ladies’ Golf Club.

"This year’s match is generating a huge amount of public interest," said Andy Salmon, CEO of the Ladies’ Golf Union.

"We have planned for around 6,000 spectators on each of the two days and have already gone some way towards these targets with our advance ticket sales. However, we still intend selling tickets at the gate and are anticipating a ‘full house’ for what we expect to be a close and highly competitive match."

An adult season ticket for the biennial clash, which includes entry to the two practice days on Thursday 10th and Friday 11th June, the opening ceremony on Friday 11th June and two days of tournament play over the weekend of Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th June, costs £28.00 and can be purchased on-line at www.lgu.org.

Alternatively, members of the public can buy their tickets through the Curtis Cup ticket hot-line on 0870 366 6541.

A daily ticket for tournament play on Saturday and Sunday will cost £15 per day while juniors, under the age of 16, can enjoy the experience free of charge, if accompanied by an adult.

The Curtis Cup was first played in 1932 at Wentworth. The Great Britain & Ireland team hope to follow on from their Vagliano Trophy victory against the Continent of Europe and regain the Curtis Cup that they last won at Killarney in 1996.

The Curtis Cup team was announced at a media day sponsored by the North West Development Agency (NWDA).

Similar help has come from England's Golf Coast which is delighted to be supporting the Ladies’ Golf Union (LGU) in staging the 2004 Curtis Cup match at Formby, Sefton (Southport). England's Golf Coast is the result of the Boroughs of Sefton, Wirral, Fylde and Lancashire teaming up with the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) and The Mersey Partnership (TMP) to make the region the most significant golfing destination in the UK by promoting its world class courses, seven of which are of championship standard.

Team

Claire Coughlan, 24, Cork

Emma Duggleby, 32, Malton & Norton

Anna Highgate, 21, Southerndown

Anne Laing, 29, Vale of Leven

Danielle Masters, 21, Bearsted Tudor Park

Shelley McKevitt, 24, Reading

Fame More, 22, Chesterfield

Nicola Timmins, 23, Sene Valley

Reserves

1. Lynn Kenny, 24, Stirling

2. Trisha Mangan, 30, Ennis

3. Kate Phillips, 21, Creigiau

4. Clare Queen, 20, Drumpellier

For further information contact: Andy Salmon, Secretary/CEO, LGU,

Tel: (44) 1334 475811 (Office) 07764 837481 (Mobile)