Meadow and Maguire twins named in Curtis Cup squad

Stephanie Meadow with her former coach Han Hankey. Pic courtesy www.ijga.comStephanie Meadow has been named alongside twins Lisa and Leona Maguire in the 12-strong Great Britain & Ireland preliminary squad for the 37th Curtis Cup match against the United States at The Nairn Golf Club from June 8-10.

The 20-year old from Royal Portrush, now in her second year at college in the US where she has won four times in all on the the circuit, has been released by Alabama University to travel to Nairn for the team trial from March 23-25.

The 17-year old Maguire girls were in action yesterday at the Portuguese Ladies Amateur Open at a cold and damp Montado Golf Resort near Lisbon, where defending champion Leona fired an opening 72 to lead the Irish challenge .

Following four hour delay for fog, play commenced with a shotgun start at 12 noon to ensure all 108 players completed their opening 18 holes.

Leona’s level par opening effort left her six strokes adrift of surprise leader Roberta Roeller of Germany (66) with Finland’s Anne Hakula and Ariane Provot of France the next best on 68 while Lisa Maguire and Paula Grant both carded one over par 73s to lie in the top fifteen overnight.

Current international Gillian O’Leary was pleased with her opening 74 having struggled with her long game while debutante Jean O’Driscoll signed for a solid 76.

Aedin Murphy was one further back on 77 while Lucy Simpson carded a 78 and Victoria Bradshaw a 79.

Louise Mernagh just failed to shoot in the seventies while Sarah Cunningham signed for 83 and Jessica Carty an 86 after struggling on the slick greens.

Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup squad

AMY BOULDEN (Maesdu GC). Age 18.

HOLLY CLYBURN (Woodhall Spa GC). Age 20.

CHARLEY HULL (Woburn GC). Age 15.

BRONTE LAW (Bramhall GC). Age 16.

LEONA MAGUIRE (Slieve Russell GC). Age 17.

LISA MAGUIRE (Slieve Russell GC). Age 17.

BECKY HARRIES (Haverfordwest GC). Age 23.

KELSEY MacDONALD (Nairn Dunbar GC). Age 21.

PAMELA PRETSWELL (Bothwell Castle). Age 22.

KELLY TIDY (Royal Birkdale GC). Age 19.

STEPHANIE MEADOW (Royal Portrush GC). Age 20.

LAUREN TAYLOR (Woburn GC). Age 17.

First reserve GEORGIA HALL (Remedy Oak GC). Age 15.

The players, watched by team captain Tegwen Matthews and the LGU International Selection Panel, will take part in a three-day team trial over The Nairn Golf Club’s championship links from Friday to Sunday, March 23 to 25.

The names of the players and reserves chosen for the team will be released for publication on Tuesday, March 27.

NOTES ON PLAYERS SELECTED

Amy Boulden, Holly Clyburn, Kelsey MacDonald, Pamela Pretswell and Kelly Tidy were the Great Britain & Ireland team of five, captained by Tegwen Matthews, who beat Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa to win the Astor Trophy (an international team match-play tournament played every four years) at Fairhaven GC, Lancashire in June 2011.

Amy Boulden, Holly Clyburn, Kelsey MacDonald, Pamela Pretswell, Stephanie Meadow, Leona Maguire and Kelly Tidy played for GB&I in the 2010 Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe at Royal Porthcawl last June.

Holly Clyburn, Leona and Lisa Maguire, Pamela Pretswell played in the 2010 Curtis Cup match at Essex County Club, Massachusetts. Kelsey MacDonald was first reserve, Stephanie Meadow second reserve and Amy Boulden fourth reserve for that match.

Becky Harries is the 2011 Welsh Ladies’ (Close) Amateur Champion, beating Amy Boulden in the final. Becky won all six matches (three foursomes, three singles) for Wales in the 2011 Women’s Home Internationals at Hillside GC, Lancashire last September. Becky finished in a very creditable sixth place in the recent Spanish

Charley Hull played for Europe in the 2010 Junior Solheim Cup match in Ireland and for GB & I in the inaugural Junior Vagliano Trophy match at Royal Porthcawl last June. Twins Leona and Lisa Maguire also played in the Junior Solheim Cup match, as did Lauren Taylor and Amy Boulden. Bronte Law and Georgia Hall played in the Junior Vagliano Trophy match.

Charley Hull won the English and Welsh women’s open stroke-play titles in 2011. She was beaten finalist in the English women’s (closed) amateur championship. A couple of weeks ago she won the Harder Hall Invitational, the opening event of the Orange Blossom Tour in Florida.

Bronte Law won the Scottish Under-16 girls’ open championship in 2011.

Leona Maguire won the British, Irish and Portuguese Ladies’ Open Amateur Stroke Play Championships in 2011.

Lisa Maguire won the European women’s individual title in Holland and also the Spanish Ladies’ Open Amateur match-play championship.

Stephanie Meadow has been released by Alabama University to travel to Nairn for the team trial. Stephanie, now in her second year at university, has won four times in all on the American college circuit.

Lauren Taylor, at 16, was the youngest ever winner of the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship (first played in 1893) at Royal Portrush GC last June. She was named the BBC Young Sports Personality of 2011.