Two teams have been selected to represent Great Britain & Ireland against the Continent of Europe in the Vagliano Trophy and the Junior Vagliano Trophy matches being played at Royal St George’s in Kent from June 28-29.
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.
Six players have been initially selected for GB&I, including Alice Hewson, Lily May Humphreys (main picture), Julie McCarthy, Shannon McWilliam, Olivia Mehaffey and Isobel Wardle. Two more players will be added to the team following the completion of the Women’s Amateur Championship later this month.
Ratcliffe 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.”
Olivia Mehaffey comes into the match as the home team’s highest ranked player, with three victories on the US collegiate circuit, while Lily May Humphreys has also recorded significant wins in recent months, including the Welsh and Irish Ladies Opens, and a runner-up finish in last week’s English Amateur.
England teammate Alice Hewson has also tasted success in the United States after winning the ICON Invitational, while Irish international Julie McCarthy won the Clemson Invitational in April. Isobel Wardle won the Comboy Leveret in March, and also finished runner-up to Humphreys in the Welsh Ladies Open.
GB&I is 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.