KirkwoodGolf: LGU PRESS RELEASE

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

LGU PRESS RELEASE

LADIES GOLF UNION PRESS RELEASE

2006 LADIES’ HOME INTERNATIONALS MATCHES

England has included four of the players who won the 2005 Ladies’ Home International matches in the team to defend their title at Frilford Heath from 13-15 September.
Naomi Edwards, Felicity Johnson, Kerry Smith and Sophie Walker helped England complete last year’s matches undefeated, thus adding to their impressive record since the matches started in 1895.
In fact, when Ireland won the title in 2003 and 2004, they ended a period of dominance in which England had won 10 of the previous 11 contests.
Six of the eight players who competed in this year’s Curtis Cup match will be competing at Frilford Heath and with three of these players – Tricia Mangan, Martina Gillen and Claire Coughlan – in their side, Ireland will be looking for a further success.
Scotland last won the Home Internationals in 1991 at Aberdovey where they successfully defended the title they had won at Hunstanton. This year Scotland has selected a strong squad which includes Curtis Cup reserves Heather MacRae and Krystle Caithness, 17, winner of this year’s St Rule Trophy.
In 1999, Wales interrupted 11 successive wins for England to put their name on the Miller Trophy for the first, and to date, only time. In seeking a second title-winning performance the Welsh will be looking for inspiration from Breanne Loucks, one of the 2006 Curtis Cup players at Bandon Dunes and from Stephanie Evans , their left-handed national champion.
Frilford Heath in Abingdon, Oxfordshire is only two years short of its centenary and in that time has gone from a rough nine hole lay-out on rented fields to one of the unique group of clubs in the British Isles boasting of 54 holes of championship golf.

TEAMS

ENGLAND
Rachel Bell, Ganton
Elizabeth Bennett, Brokenhurst Manor
Naomi Edwards, Ganton
Felicity Johnson, Harborne
Florentyna Parker, Royal Birkdale
Melissa Reid, Chevin
Kerry Smith, Waterlooville
Sophie Walker, Kenwick Park
IRELAND
Claire Coughlan, Cork
Maria Dunne, Skerries
Martina Gillen, Beaverstown
Niamh Kitching, Claremorris
Tricia Mangan, Ennis
Danielle McVeigh, Royal Co. Down Ladies'
Maura Morrin, The Curragh
Deirdre Smith, Co. Louth
SCOTLAND
Sara Bishop, Windyhill
Krystle Caithness, St Regulus
Louise Kenney, Pitreavie
Heather MacRae, Dunblane New
Roseanne Niven, Crieff
Martine Pow, Selkirk
Sally Watson, Elie & Earlsferry Ladies
Jenna Wilson, Strathaven
WALES
Tara Davies, Holyhead
Stephanie Evans, Vale of Llangollen
Becky Harries, Haverford West
Sahra Hassan, Vale of Glamorgan
Breanne Loucks, Wrexham
Jo Nicolson, Wrexham
Katherine O' Conner, Tadmarton Heath
Rhian Wyn Thomas, Vale of Glamorgan