McWilliam makes grade for Curtis Cup

Aboyne’s Shannon McWilliam has been named in the Great Britain and Ireland team which will attempt to defend the Curtis Cup against United States at Quaker Ridge in New York this summer.

McWilliam is the only Scot selected by captain Elaine Farquharson-Black, who is looking to spearhead another triumph after overseeing the 11∫-8∫ victory at Dun Laoghaire in Ireland in 2016.

The inclusion of 18-year-old McWilliam marks the first Scottish selection in the Curtis Cup since 2014, when Gemma Dryburgh and Eilidh Briggs were part of a losing GB&I side at Missouri.

McWilliam is joined by five selections from England, including 16-year-old Lily May Humphrey, who won the Girls British open amateur championship and English women’s amateur championship last year, as well as two from Ireland.

McWilliam’s runnerup finish to Humphrey at last week’s Helen Holm Trophy in Troon effectively secured her place, following a good start to the year which saw her emphatically win the Border Championship in South Africa.

Aberdeen’s Farquharson-Black said: “There have been a number of players throughout Great Britain and Ireland who have been in impressive form recently and it was a difficult decision to select only eight.

“The players selected will now have a wonderful opportunity to perform on the international stage in one of the world’s most prestigious events and. I’m sure they will give their very best as we attempt to retain the trophy against a talented team from the United States.” l Matt Wallace reaped the rewards of putting the Ryder Cup firmly to the back of his mind with an opening round of 65 in the China Open. That gave the 28-year-old Englishman a share of second place, a shot behind surprise leader Daxing Jin, of China.