AMATEUR
Hull To Play Curtis Cup, Team Finalized
Awareness of the Curtis Cup has rocketed
over the last few weeks and it is all down to
Charley Hull. The 16-year-old English golfer
was dropped from the 12-strong squad when
she failed to attend the recent Curtis Cup
trial at Nairn but has been reinstated for the
match itself.
Hull apart, the team for Nairn from 8-10
June consists of Amy Boulden, 18, Holly
Clyburn, 21, Bronte Law, 17, Leona Maguire,
17, Pamela Pretswell, 22, Kelly Tidy, 20, and
Stephanie Meadow, 20. The reserves are as
follows: Lisa Maguire 17, Georgia Hall, 15,
Becky Harries, 23, Kelsey Macdonald, 21.
No one knew quite what to expect when
the selectors discussed the Hull situation last
Monday before announcing their all-important
octet on Tuesday.
Ultimately, they voted to have Hull in the
team whilst simultaneously acknowledging
that they had made a mistake in their couching of the “player agreement.” In particular,
they felt that it had been a mistake to make it
mandatory for a golfer with Hull’s credentials
to play in the trial.
There will have been some concern as to
what messages they have sent out by letting
one girl ignore regulations to which the rest
have cheerfully conformed. However, short
term at least, they have probably hit on the
best outcome in that GB&I will now be heading
for Nairn with the strongest possible team.
Hull will have some reconnaissance rounds
of her own over the course in the next few
weeks, while the player and her parents will
be having a meeting with Tegwen Matthews,
the Curtis Cup captain. Matthews is obviously
seeking confirmation that Hull is genuinely
excited to play in the contest.
Plenty were surprised at Lauren Taylor’s
omission but the 2011 British Amateur champion was nursing an injury at the trial – she
could only swing the club half-way back – and
was not sure when she would be right.
Shona Malcolm, the CEO of the Ladies’ Golf
Union, has indicated that major changes are
likely to be made to the selection process
following this year’s problems.
Instead of concentrating solely on those who
have come up through their national squads,
she suspects that they will from now be hav-
ing a closer look at players who are develop-
ing outside the system. University students in
the UK, a largely forgotten bunch, are likely to
come into the equation for a first time.
GB&I last won the Curtis Cup in 1996 at
Killarney in Ireland. l
www.globalgolfpost.com
APRIL 2, 2012
Bartlett Bests Kemp
For Berkhamsted Trophy
Jack Bartlett, of Worthing Golf Club, won the
Berkhamsted Trophy in a playoff with John Kemp
on Saturday.
Bartlett carded rounds
of 68 and 72 for 140, seven
under the total CSS for the
day at England’s Berkham-
sted Golf Club, while Kemp,
of John O’Gaunt Golf Club,
posted a pair of 70s. They
finished one stroke ahead of
Tom Fox, Callum Shinkwin, Michael Saunders and
Welsh Golf International Ben Westgate.
Former winners of this prestigious men’s amateur event include Luke Donald, Sandy Lyle, Peter
McEvoy, Gary Wolstenholme and Tom Lewis.
RESULTS
Jack Bartlett
WILLIAMS, SMITH SA AM CHAMPS
Teenager Jack Williams exceeded his own
expectations with victory in the South Australian
amateur golf championship at The Grange on Sunday. Williams, 17, held his nerve against his more
experienced opponent and last year’s champion,
Brad Moules, to claim the title at the 38th hole.
West Australian Nadine Smith earned her first
tournament win when she dismissed Cassidy
Evreniadis 3 and 1 in the women’s final.
“There was nothing in it all day,” Williams said.
“I’d get one shot up, then Brad would be one up. It
was tight the whole match and both of us played
well. We would have been a couple under par for the
day. I’m pretty shocked to have won.”
Williams went into his first state championship
wanting to finish in the top 16. His hopes of winning
were raised after the semi-final on Friday when he
overcame Matthew Whittenberg 7 and 6.
