North's Curtis Cup hopes rest on Kelsey
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A POTENTIALLY life-changing weekend is in store for Nairn Dunbar star Kelsey MacDonald who has her last chance to convince selectors to include her in the Curtis Cup squad.
The 21-year-old will make the short trip across town for the extended “squad weekend” at the Nairn championship course, which was launched with a welcome dinner last night.
Practice rounds will be held this morning ahead of links shots and putting this afternoon, before the 12-strong squad is split into thirds for foursome and fourball events tomorrow, which spectators can attend.
Visitors can support MacDonald in a singles competition on Sunday morning before the selectors meet on Monday to discuss who will fill the coveted eight slots — with the announcement of the final squad due on Tuesday lunchtime.
The event, held from 8th to 10th June at Nairn during its 125th anniversary year, is the most prestigious amateur women’s golf match in the world.
It is a biennial contest between the best women golfers of Great Britain and Ireland against the best the United States can muster.
The hosts’ team captain Tegwen Mathews hopes the squad weekend will be a chance for bonding, practice and familiarisation with the wonderful seaside golf course, which hosted the male equivalent — The Walker Cup — in 1999, the Scottish Amateur Championship in 2006, and the Seniors Amateur Open a year later.
She will offer her view to the selectors from the Ladies Golf Union (LGU) on who should team with her.
Despite all MacDonald’s success as a teenager — which include being a multiple national champion and winning the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association Order of Merit — she is likely to be fighting for her place, according to Courier golf correspondent Robin Wilson.
“Of course local girl Kelsey needs no introduction to the course,” he said. “She was selected into the squad of 12 in January but she will have to play her very best this weekend to leave a final impression on the team captain as already seven of the squad have been installed as favourites to make up the final eight.
“But all of the north golfers are willing MacDonald to be part of it.”
He believes her place has been strengthened by the withdrawal of the squad’s youngest member, Holly Clyburn (15), who ruled herself out of selection when she declined this weekend’s get together.
Her place has been filled by the squad’s first reserve Georgia Hall (15).
The selection panel want golf fans to watch the competitive events in order to provide both encouragement and pressure, similar to the atmosphere they would experience this summer.
The June daily admission tickets cost £16 for adults (under-16s free) are now available from the LGU website but will also be available at the gate. Season tickets covering the match and practice days cost £30 and car parking is free.
• Watch this weekend’s action for free — Tomorrow — 8am: Foursomes; 1.30pm: Fourballs. Sunday — 8.30am: Singles.
