CARLY BOOTH from Scotland is to become the youngest player to appear for Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup - at 15, just a year older than Michelle Wie was when she represented America in 2004.
Currently on a golf scholarship in Phoenix, Booth is one of four Scots in the eight-strong line-up for the match at St Andrews on May 30th-June 1st.
On her 11th birthday and when still at primary school, Booth became the youngest club champion in Britain with a two-over-par round at Dunblane, then partnered Sandy Lyle to victory in a pro-am before the British Masters.
Her father, Wally, is a former Commonwealth Games wrestling champion - and a former bouncer for The Beatles - and her brother Wallace has also played golf for Scotland.
The other Scots in the team are 16-year-old Sally Watson, 19-year-old Krystle Caithness and 20-year-old Michele Thomson.
Welsh star Breanne Loucks, also 20, is the only survivor of the side which suffered a fifth successive defeat two years ago.
The other places go to English trio Elizabeth Bennett (25), Jodi Ewart (20) and Florentyna Parker (18).
The non-playing captain, Ireland's Mary McKenna, said: "It was no easy task with the quality of the squad being so high, and I feel very confident that we can win the Curtis Cup on this historic occasion."
A new, three-day format of play has been introduced, featuring three foursomes and three fourball matches on each of the first two days and then eight singles.
Ireland, who boasted four selections in 2006, have Danielle McVeigh in the reserve list as their sole representative. The US leads the entire series 25-6, with three matches tied.
BRITAIN AND IRELAND: Elizabeth Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor), Carly Booth (Comrie), Krystle Caithness (St Regulus), Jodi Ewart (Catterick), Breanne Loucks (Wrexham), Florentyna Parker (Royal Birkdale), Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), Sally Watson (Elie and Earlsferry). Reserves: Kerry Smith (Waterlooville), Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan), Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton), Danielle McVeigh (Royal County Down). Captain: Mary McKenna (Donabate). Manager: Tegwen Matthews
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