Both the European Ladies and Girls Team Championships are taking place this week in Iceland and Norway. The teams are competing in the annual tournament and have high hopes of securing a top table finish.
Each competitor plays 18 holes stroke play on both Tuesday and Wednesday and the five lowest aggregate scores from each day count towards the team total. The qualifying stroke play scores will then determine a seeded order for match play. Teams one to eight qualify for the top flight, nine through to 16 for flight two and the teams in flight three play a round robin, with the teams qualifying 17th playing the teams qualifying 20th, 19th and 18th on days 3, 4 and 5, respectively.
The ladies team includes GB&I Curtis Cup stars Olivia Mehaffey (RCDL) and Maria Dunne (Skerries). Mehaffey has several titles under her belt this year, including the Irish Close, Irish Open Stroke Play and Welsh Ladies Open Stoke Play Championships. Dunne, a leader and role model for many of her teammates finished third at the Scottish Open Stroke Play and secured 2 from 4 points which greatly helped GB&I lift the Curtis Cup at Dun Laoghaire.
They will also be joined by US based Jessica Carty (Holywood), who was recently named Summit League Golfer of the Year, Louise Coffey (Malone) who won the Woodbrook Scratch Cup and reached the Irish Close final at Lahinch, Jessica Ross (Donaghadee), who finished runner-up at both the Welsh Ladies Open Stroke Play and the R&A Foundation Scholars Tournament and last but not least Sinead Sexton (Lahinch), Irish Close leading qualifier and semi-finalist.
For further information on the European Ladies’ Amateur Team Championships please visit the official website HERE.
European Ladies Team Championships – Oddur GC (Iceland)
Jessica Carty (Holywood)
Louise Coffey (Malone)
Maria Dunne (Skerries)
Olivia Mehaffey (Royal Co. Down Ladies)
Jessica Ross (Clandeboye)
Sinead Sexton (Lahinch)
Non Travelling Reserve: Paula Grant (Lisburn)
Team Captain: Sinead Keane (Royal Curragh/Naas)
Team Coach: Donal Scott
The girls’ are fielding a great team, all of whom have experience of golfing at an elite level. Rachel Thompson (Cork) will make her first International debut after a stunning year of consistent and noticeable scoring. The Cork native finished tied 21st at the Welsh Ladies Open Stroke Play and showcased her skills at Lahinch for the Irish Close Championship. She will join Munster Champion Valerie Clancy (Killarney), 2015 Junior Vagliano players Mairead Martin (Killarney) and Annabel Wilson (Lurgan), the Island’s Julie McCarthy and Lurgan member Niamh McSherry.
For further information on the European Girls’ Amateur Team Championships please visit the official website HERE.
European Girls Team Championships – Oslo GC (Norway)
Valerie Clancy (Killarney)
Mairead Martin (Killarney)
Julie McCarthy (Forrest Little)
Niamh McSherry (Lurgan)
Rachel Thompson (Cork)
Annabel Wilson (Lurgan)
Non Travelling Reserve: Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden)
Team Captain: Gemma Butler (Birr)
Team Coach: Chris Jelly