Curtis Cup Team announced

Fiona Brown, Rebecca Hudson, Becky Morgan and Kim Andrew, all members of the 1998 Curtis Cup team have again been selected for the biennial match against the United States at Ganton Golf Club on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th June.

The four players making their debuts in the contest and completing the team of eight are Becky Brewerton, 17; Emma Duggleby, 28; Lesley Nicholson, 24 and Suzanne O’Brien, 33.

Claire Dowling, captain of the GB&I side said: “We undoubtedly have a very solid team with a nucleus of players experienced at playing at the highest level. Two years ago in America we only lost out by two points and with four players from that team playing at Ganton, I am confident that we can produce the right performance on the day.”

Rebecca Hudson, 20, is one of the most experienced players in the side and was unbeaten in her two singles and one foursomes in 1998 at the Minikahda Club. Already this year she has had success with her win in the Spanish Amateur Championship and last year finished runner-up in the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale.

Twelve months earlier the winner of that championship at Little Aston was Kim Andrew, 26, who is playing in her second Curtis Cup. Andrew has twice played for GB&I in the Vagliano Trophy and has represented England at senior level since 1996. The other English players are 1998 Curtis Cup player Fiona Brown, 26 and Emma Duggleby, 28, the Ladies’ British Champion in 1994 and winner of the English Stroke Play Championship in 1998.

Becky Brewerton and Becky Morgan, 23, are the two Welsh players in the team and aged only 17, Brewerton is one of the youngest players to represent GB&I in the match. She won the Welsh Junior Girls Championship in 1997 and 1998 and last year added the Welsh Ladies’ Championship and the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship to her list of achievements.

Lesley Nicholson, 24, the only Scottish player in the team, had a run of success in 1999 which included wins in the Helen Holm Scottish Stroke Play at Troon and the St. Rule Trophy over the Old and New courses at St. Andrews.

Suzanne O’Brien, 33, from Dublin finished third behind Nicholson in the St. Rule Trophy and now completes the team of eight for the match in June. O’Brien was Irish Champion in 1997, the Irish Stroke Play Champion in 1998 and last year played for GB&I against the Continent of Europe in the Vagliano Trophy at North Berwick where she compiled a 100% record in her four matches.

Captain of the team is Claire Dowling who had an outstanding career in amateur golf which included playing in the Curtis Cup in 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1992.

The Curtis Cup match consists of three foursomes and six singles on both Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th June.

TEAM

Kim Andrew (Clitheroe)

Becky Brewerton (Abergele)

Fiona Brown (Heswall)

Emma Duggleby (Malton & Norton)

Rebecca Hudson (Wheatley)

Becky Morgan (Monmouth)

Lesley Nicholson (Haddington)

Suzanne O’Brien (Milltown)

RESERVES

Alison Coffey (Warrenpoint)

Hilary Monaghan (Longniddry)

Kerry Smith (Waterlooville)

Anne Laing (Edinburgh University)

CAPTAIN

Claire Dowling