Although not unexpected, Paddy Gribben's metamorphosis from struggling professional to the top of the amateur game was yesterday given due recognition when he was named on the four-man British and Irish team to play in the Eisenhower Trophy, the world amateur team championship, in Chile in November.
The 30-year-old Warrenpoint player was re-instated as an amateur just 18 months ago and his selection on the Eisenhower team comes at the end of a season in which he won the European individual championship (the first Irishman to achieve such a feat) and the North of Ireland championship.
Gribben is the sole Irish player on the team which features just one survivor from two years ago when Britain and Ireland finished in fifth place in the Philippines.
Gary Wolstenholme is again chosen and is the only player with previous Eisenhower Trophy experience. Gribben, Wolstenholme, Luke Donald, a 20-year-old Englishman, and Scotland's strokeplay champion Lorne Kelly comprise the team which will seek to become the first British and Irish team since 1988 to lift the trophy.
Valerie Hassett is preparing to set off on her travels again, but the trip across the Irish Sea next weekend to play in the British Women's Seniors' championship is nothing compared to her remarkable odyssey of the past month that nearly brought about a major international sporting success.
Competing in the US Women's Seniors Championship at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club in Williamsburg, Virginia, Hassett was joint-seventh leading qualifier and won five matchplay matches before eventually losing in the final to Canadian Cathy Borthwick.
"It was all a totally different experience," said Hassett, "but I loved every minute of it. It was much bigger than the British championship which only entailed 54 holes. In the American championship, I had to get through the medal stage and then every match brought its own challenge."
The British championship takes place in Dumfries in Scotland next week. Hassett won the event two years ago and was runner-up last year.
