FARQUHARSON-BLACKATDOUBLETOTAKEONAMERICANS

Aberdeen’s Elaine Farquharson-Black will captain Great Britain and Ireland amateur women golfers in the Curtis Cup for the second time in 2018 when the biennial encounter against the United States is played at Quaker Ridge.

Farquharson-Black, who played in the 1990 and 1992 matches, led GB&I to a 111/ 81/ win against the United States when it was contested at Dun Laoghaire last year and will be looking to retain the trophy when the two sides meet in New York from June 8 to 10.

She will be assisted again by Helen Hewlett, who will act as team manager for GB&I.

Farquharson-Black said: “I am very proud to have been selected to captain Great Britain and Ireland again and I am looking forward to the challenge of retaining the trophy after our memorable win at Dun Laoghaire last year.

“We will be working with a very talented group of golfers before we select a team of eight players for what promises to be a thrilling match against the United States.”

An invited group of six players will join Farquharson-Black on a visit to Quaker Ridge next week, including Alice Hewson, Leona Maguire and Olivia Mehaffey who all played in the winning GB&I team in 2016.

India Clyburn, Sophie Lamb and Annabel Wilson will also join the trip to the east coast of the United States which will include opportunities for the players to play on the course. Next year’s match will mark the 40th staging of the Curtis Cup. It has been won 28 times by the US and eight times by GB&I with three matches having been tied (1936, 1958 and 1994).

GOING FOR THE DOUBLE: Elaine Farquharson-Black, left, and English player Bronte Law, who won all five of her matches in the win against the United States in Ireland last year, show off the Curtis Cup after the 2016 triumph