Butler set for battle

British champion Kim Rostron and Elaine Ratcliffe will launch Great Britain and Ireland's defence of the 30th Curtis Cup against their amateur counterparts from America in Minneapolis today and tomorrow.

Rostron and Ratcliffe, who is about to turn professional, face 1997 US girls junior champion Beth Bauer and recent US Women's Open runner-up Jenny Chuasiriporn in the morning foursomes at the Minikahda Club.

Karen Stupples and Fiona Brown tackle Kellee Booth and Brenda Kuehn in the second match, and the final pairing has Alison Rose and Becky Morgan up against Robin Burke and Virginia Grimes.

"All our players can't wait to get into the match," said Great Britain and Ireland captain Ita Butler of Elm Park.

"We have a great team in great spirit, and an added bonus for us is to have so many supporters here to cheer us on."

Butler likens the Minikahda course in Minneapolis to Killarney, where Great Britain and Ireland were victorious two years ago.

"Accuracy more than length and patience is essential," she said, "but the outcome will come down to chipping and putting."

Play comprises of three foursomes matches followed by six singles on each of the two days.

Butler hopes to be able to play all of her eight golfers at least once but warned: "If it's not possible, sentiment can't come into it."

Great Britain and Ireland have done exceptionally well in recent years in the Curtis Cup, winning four times and tying once. Their only defeat was in America at Somerset Hills in 1990.

Butler is cautiously optimistic, saying: "The girls are gelling well and they're in good form. I never predict the outcome of any match, but they are certainly fired up for this one.".

They have been to Spain to get to know each other and to become familiar with the anticipated fast American greens. They have also had several sessions in a heat chamber at Loughborough College to prepare for the sweltering temperatures in Minneapolis.

Britain's Trish Johnson set about making it third time lucky with a second round four-under-par 69 in the German Open outside Hamburg yesterday.

Johnson finished second in Austria and Sweden over the past two weeks and set herself up for another weekend challenge on six-under-par 140, two behind leader Lora Fairclough.

Fairclough, three ahead after an opening 67, kept in front with a 71 on another day of wind and rain.

Ireland's Tracey Eakin slipped to nine shots off the pace after rounds of 71 and 76, while Aideen Rogers missed the cut after following a 77 with a 78. Portmarnock's Hugh MacKeown fired a third round 77 to surge through the field and finish in third place in the British Seniors Amateur Open Championship at Western Gailes on the Ayrshire coast yesterday. MacKeown (56), finished on 228, seven shots behind the winner David Lane, but only one off second place, and he was delighted with the award of his silver tankard.

"When I knew this event was going to be at Western Gailes I felt this was the year for me as it is similar to Portmarnock.

"Halfway through the round I guessed I had a chance although I didn't expect to be close enough to win."