Headed by World No. 1 Leona Maguire,Great Britain and Ireland will be looking to overturn a ten year losing streak at this week's Vagliano Trophy.
Headed by World No. 1 Leona Maguire,Great Britain and Ireland will be looking to overturn a ten year losing streak at this week's Vagliano Trophy.
The British contingent have arrived in Italy the underdogs, following a dismal run in the biennial two-day match against Continental Europe, but will be hopeful following the team's inspired performance at last year's Curtis Cup.
The statistics undoubtedly stack against the squad. Europe have an impressive 40 players in the top 60 of the World Women Amateur Rankings, in comparison to just three in Great Britain and Ireland - No 1 Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell, Ireland), No 13 Olivia Mehaffey (Royal Co Down Ladies) and No. 37 Alice Hewson (Berkhamsted). Nonetheless team manager Helen Hewlett is confident this is the year her team can bring back the trophy.
"We are quietly confident of victory. Both Elaine Farquharson-Black and I have been impressed by the high standard of our members' play in practice," she said
"As far as the world amateur rankings are concerned, I don't pay too much attention to them because they are based on a two-year cycle and don't represent current form," said Mrs Farquharson-Black.
Leona Maguire will undoubtedly be the leading light of the squad, and having already played in the Olympic Games and several major championships will bring a wealth of experience to the team. Meanwhile compatriot Mehaffey is coming to the event fresh off victory at the NCAA Championships with Arizona State, and will undoubtedly be full of confidence.
Running concurrently to the senior event is the Junior Vagliano Trophy match for U16s, now in its fourth staging.
The foursomes line-ups for the opening morning at Bogogno Golf Club are:
08.00 Leona Maguire (Ireland) and Olivia Mehaffey (Ireland) v Linnea Strom (Sweden) and Julie Engstrom (Sweden).
08.10 Maria Dunne (Ireland) and Annabel Wilson (Ireland) v Matilda Castren (Finland) and Morgane Metraux (Switzerland).
08.20 Alice Hewson (England) and India Clyburn (England) v Puk Lyng Thomsen (Denmark) and Dewi Weber (Netherlands).
08.30 Gemma Clews (England) and Sophie Lamb (England) v Virginia Elena Carta (Italy) v Albane Venezuela (Switzerland).
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