Lisa Maguire snubbed but Leona makes the cut

CURTIS CUP:TO BE snubbed once by the LGU selectors – as she was for last year's Vagliano Trophy – could be considered careless, on the part of the selectors.

But twice? Quite bizarre! The decision to overlook Lisa Maguire, the European women’s amateur champion, from the Britain and Ireland team for the Curtis Cup match with the United States at Nairn, Scotland, on June 8th-10th was the most surprising aspect of yesterday’s team announcement.

Although two Irish players – her twin sister Leona, the reigning British women’s strokeplay champion, and Stephanie Meadow, currently based at the University of Alabama where she is on a golfing scholarship – were named on the eight-player team, Lisa’s relegation to first reserve deprived Ireland of an expected three representatives.

In an about-turn decision by the LGU, England’s Charley Hull – seventh in the amateur world rankings – was included in the team.

Hull, who missed a “compulsory” squad session last week so she could prepare for an appearance in this week’s Kraft Nabisco championship on the US LPGA Tour, was picked by “an independent selection panel” despite having made herself unavailable for selection, according to the LGU.

Hull, as the in-form player in Britain and Ireland, certainly deserved to be in the team; and there was a certainty that Lisa – ranked ninth in the world – and Meadow – ranked 10th – would be selected, given their respective form over the past year.

But the decision to exclude Lisa, who made her Curtis Cup debut in Boston two years ago where she secured two points from a possible three in BI’s 7½ to 12½ points loss to the Americans, was an unexpected one.

Leona is currently ranked 56th in the world, ahead of Pamela Pretswell (62nd), Kelly Tidy (109th) and Bronte Law (225th), who have all been given the nod by the selectors.

Pretswell and Tidy were on the Britain and Ireland team that won the Astor Trophy last year, an event which the ILGU didn’t make any players available for selection.

Of the eight players on the team, only three – Leona Maguire, Pamela Prestwell and Holly Clyburn – have experience of playing in the Curtis Cup.

Lauren Taylor, the 17-year-old winner of the Ladies’ British Open Amateur championship at Royal Portrush last June, was not selected because of doubts about her fitness.

Lisa and Leona, at 15, became the youngest ever players on the Britain and Ireland team in the Curtis Cup when they made their debuts two years ago.

Meadow, from Jordanstown in Northern Ireland, came through the Hank Haney school system and is currently at the University of Alabama.

She was selected on the All-American college team as a freshman last year after a hugely impressive college season.

CURTIS CUP(Nairn, June 8th-10th)

BRITAIN AND IRELAND TEAM

Amy Boulden (18) Conwy GC; Holly Clyburn (20) Woodhall Spa GC; Charley Hull (16) Woburn GC;Bronte Law 17 Bramhall GC; Leona Maguire (17) Slieve Russell GC; Stephanie Meadow (20) Royal Portrush GC; Pamela Pretswell (22) Bothwell Castle GC; Kelly Tidy (20) Royal Birkdale GC; Team Captain: Tegwen Matthews ( Wales). Team Manager: Anna Hubbard (Wales)