Two teams have been selected to represent Great Britain and Ireland against the Continent of Europe in the Vagliano Trophy and the Junior Vagliano Trophy matches being played at Royal St George’s from 28-29 June.

Elaine Ratcliffe will captain GB&I in the Vagliano Trophy match with the hosts seeking a first win in the biennial encounter since 2005 when they defeated the Continent of Europe 13-11 at Golf de Chantilly.

Five players have been initially selected for GB&I including Alice Hewson, Lily May Humphreys, Julie McCarthy, Shannon McWilliam and Isobel Wardle.

Three more players will be added to the team following the completion of The Women’s Amateur Championship later this month.

Talented group

Elaine Ratcliffe, GB&I captain, said, “We have selected a great group of players who have already this season played some wonderful golf and it will be an exciting contest against the Continent of Europe in Kent.

“We will be keeping a close eye on events during The Women’s Amateur Championship next week to determine the two players who will complete our team and it will provide an added incentive to those players from Great Britain and Ireland who are competing at Royal County Down.”

England's Humphreys comes into the match as the team’s highest ranked player with significant wins in recent months including the Welsh Ladies Open Stroke Play Championship and the Irish Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship. The Stoke-by-Nayland member also finished runner-up in this year’s English Women’s Amateur Championship.

Fellow compatriot Hewson has tasted success in the United States after winning the ICON Invitational, while Irish international McCarthy won the Clemson Invitational in April.

Wardle won The Comboy Leveret in March and also finished runner-up to Humphreys in the Welsh Ladies Open Stroke Play Championship.

Ireland's Olivia Mehaffey was initially selected for the match but unfortunately had to withdraw due to a wrist injury.

Juniors seeking first win

GB&I are bidding to win the Junior Vagliano Trophy for the first time since the international match for girls was inaugurated in 2011 and Maria Dunne will captain the side for the first time in the match.

The former GB&I international has selected Beth Coulter, Hannah Darling, Carmen Griffiths, Darcey Harry, Patience Rhodes and Ffion Tynan to play against their counterparts from the Continent of Europe.  

Maria Dunne, GB&I captain, said, “I am looking forward to working with these young golfers with the aim of winning the Junior Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe for the first time. It will be an exciting encounter and the players are very much looking forward to the challenge of playing at Royal St George’s.”

The initial GB&I team for the Vagliano Trophy match is:

Alice Hewson, 21, Berkhamsted
Shannon McWilliam, 19, Aboyne
Lily May Humphreys, 17, Stoke-by-Nayland            
Isobel Wardle, 19, Prestbury
Julie McCarthy, 19, Forrest Little

The GB&I team for the Junior Vagliano Trophy match is:

Beth Coulter, 15, Kirkistown Castle
Darcey Harry, 15, The Vale Resort
Hannah Darling,15, Broomieknowe
Patience Rhodes, 15, Burnham & Berrow
Carmen Griffiths, 15, Aboyne 
Ffion Tynan, 16, Minchinhampton

For more information about the Vagliano Trophy and the Junior Vagliano Trophy, including scoring and reports please visit RandA.org

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