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Curtis Cup Preview: Who is going to win the 2008 Curtis Cup at St Andrews?

Posted by Big G under Curtis Cup, Latest Golf News

I can see this year’s Curtis Cup contest at St Andrews being a closely run contest with both teams full of great talent and impressive golf resumes.

Above, 15 year old Kimberly Kim of Hilo, Hawaii who shot a record 10-under 62 at the 2007 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship.

I feel this will be very much subject to weather conditions and if the wind blows as hard as it can around these famous links. If it stays calm, I believe the Americans will win, but if it blows, the GB&I team shall be victorious.

My money is on the GB&I team to win as I feel they have the best balance and are very familiar/ comfortable with one another. They have the right blend including some big hitters and the recent St Rule victory by Kylie Walker of Buchanan Castle illustrates the need for big-hitting around the old course.

This is not to say the defending champions do not possess all of shots required to tame the old course and beat GB&I as their team contains a number of players well versed in playing in the wind, some of whom have won the US Public Links Championship.

The GB&I team contains four Scots such as European Junior Girls Champion Carly Booth who will receive backing from large Scottish crowds albeit the Americans can also expect good support.

The team profiles are as follows.

USA Team Profile (DEFENDING CHAMPIONS)

Amanda Blumenherst, 21, of Scottsdale, Ariz.

A member of the USA’s victorious 2006 Curtis Cup team … runner-up at the 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur … tied for low-amateur honors at the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open … also made the cut at the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open … represented the USA at the 2006 Women’s World Amateur Team Championship in South Africa … earned National Golf Coaches Association and Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors in 2005-06 … also named the NCGA Player of the Year in 2006-07 and Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year in 2006-07 and 2007-08 … was named the 2005-06 Edith Cummings Munson Golf Award honoree, given to the All-America and Scholar All-America with the highest grade-point average in Division I women’s golf … a two-time first-team All-America honoree … won the 2006, 2007 and 2008 ACC Championships (first three-time ACC champion in women’s golf) … runner-up at the 2006 NCAA Division I Central Regional and the 2007 and 2008 NCAA East Regionals … tied for ninth at the 2006 NCAA Division I Women’s Championship and fourth at the 2007 national collegiate championship … had two other wins during her freshman campaign – the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational and the Mason Rudolph Women’s, her first collegiate event … had top-10 finishes in all 11 events she played as a freshman … earned three consecutive wins during her spring 2007 campaign – at the Wildcat Invitational, the UCF Challenge and the LSU/Cleveland Golf Classic … also won the 2007 Mason Rudolph and the 2007 Lady Tar Heel Invitational … honored with the 2007 and 2008 Nancy Lopez Awards, which recognizes the top amateur female golfer … a member of two NCAA Division I national championship teams at Duke, in 2006 and 2007 … 2005 Women’s Western Amateur medalist … a semifinalist at the 2007 North and South Women’s Amateur … won 10 American Junior Golf Association events … represented the USA at the 2007 Spirit International … has shot a career-low 63, shot during the 2007 NCAA East Regional … finished 30th at the 2008 LPGA Tour Kraft Nabisco Championship to earn low-amateur honors … also made the cut at the 2006 LPGA Wegman’s, finishing 17th … a junior at Duke University in 2007-08 … daughter of Dave and Amy … has one brother, Drew, and one sister, Erica … birth date: Nov. 4, 1986.

Meghan Bolger, 29, of Haddonfield, NJ.

Won the 2006 and 2007 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateurs … won the 2006 title at Old Waverly with a 5-and-4 victory over Thuhashini Selvaratnam and the 2007 championship with a 1-up victory over Kerry Postillion at Desert Forest Golf Club … also qualified for the 2005 Women’s Mid-Amateur but had to withdraw due to a team commitment … qualified for the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open, which was played in her adopted home of Southern Pines, N.C. … played in four U.S. Women’s Amateurs … runner-up at the 2008 Ione D. Jones/Doherty Championship … has three career holes-in-one … has a career-low round of 69 … won the Philadelphia Women’s Amateur seven years in a row, from 1999 to 2005 … played in the final stage of LPGA Tour Qualifying School as an amateur in 2007 … a 2000 graduate of Tulane University … her father served as her caddie for the 2006 and 2007 Women’s Mid-Ams … served as the head women’s golf coach at University of Mississippi for seven years … inducted into the Eastern High School Hall of Fame in 2004 … daughter of Michael and Linda … has two brothers and two sisters … birth date: May 30, 1978.

Mina Harigae, 18, of Monterey, Calif.

Won the 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship at Kearney Hill Golf Links with a 4-and-3 victory over Stephany Fleet … has played in five Women’s Amateur Public Links, five U.S. Girls’ Juniors (best finish of semifinals in 2003 and 2006), five Women’s Amateurs and the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open, where she made the cut … medalist at the 2006 Girls’ Junior after shooting an 8-under 64 at Carmel Country Club … a two-time U.S. Girls’ Junior semifinalist, in 2003 and 2006 … co-medalist at the 2006 Women’s Amateur Public Links … won the 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 California Women’s State Championships … won the 2007 AJGA Verizon Junior Heritage and the 2006 AJGA Heather Farr Classic … an AJGA Rolex All-American first-team selection in 2005, 2006 and 2007 … has played with Tom Watson (2004) and Tom Kite (2005 and 2006) at The First Tee Open … lowest competitive score of 62 at the 2006 AJGA Polo Classic … a senior at The Stevenson School in 2007-08 … will attend Duke in 2008 … daughter of Mafumi and Yasunori … born Nov. 1, 1989.

Tiffany Joh, 21, of San Diego, Calif.

Won the 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship with a 6-and-5 victory over Kimberly Kim at Walking Stick Golf Course … advanced to the third round of both the 2007 Women’s Amateur Public Links and the U.S. Women’s Amateur … advanced to second round of the 2005 U.S. Women’s Amateur … competed at 2004 U.S. Girls’ Junior and advanced to second round … won the 2007 PAC-10 individual title with a birdie on the second extra playoff hole … also won the 2007 Bucaramanga Open (Colombia) … co-medalist at the 2007 Kent Youel Invitational … runner-up at the 2007 NCAA West Regional … tied for 22nd at the 2007 LPGA Safeway Classic … lowest competitive round is a 63 shot at 2005 at the ANZ Ladies Masters that included a double eagle on the final hole … tied for third at same event in 2006 … represented the USA at the 2007 Spirit International … won four junior events in 2004 … earned second-team NCGA All-America honors and first-team All-Pac-10 honors in 2006-07 … named a first-team NCGA All-America and first-team All-Pac-10 selection in 2005-06 … named the 2006 Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year and the 2007-08 Pac-10 Player of the Year … began playing at age of 12 because her parents live on a golf course … participated in a First Tee program in San Diego as a youth … a junior at UCLA in 2007-08 … daughter of Ock and Gun … has an older brother, Chris … birth date: Dec. 8, 1986.

Kimberly Kim, 16, of Hilo, Hawaii

Won the 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur with a 1-up victory over Katharina Schallenberg at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Ore. … also runner-up at the 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links and a semifinalist at the 2007 U.S. Women’s Amateur … stroke-play medalist at the 2007 U.S. Girls’ Junior after shooting a championship-tying score of 62 in the first round. The 62 broke the competitive course record at Tacoma Country and Golf Club, previously held by 2002 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Becky Lucidi, by three shots … played in the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open, where she was paired with defending champion Annika Sorenstam for the first two rounds … also played in the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open, where she was the youngest to make the cut; and the Girls’ Junior, where she lost in the second round … represented the USA at the 2006 Women’s World Amateur Team Championship in South Africa … also played in the 2004 and 2005 U.S. Girls’ Juniors and the 2003 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links … moved to the Phoenix area from Hawaii to make it easier to compete in national tournaments on the mainland … became the youngest to win an AJGA championship when she won the 2004 Sun Willows Junior as a 12 year old … two-time winner of the Junior World Championship (2000, 2004 )… tied for fifth at 2006 Rolex Girls Championship … only hole-in-one came in 2003 … lowest competitive score is a 62 at the 2007 Girls’ Junior … a home-schooled junior in 2007-08 … daughter of Arlene Kim and Young Soo … has one sister, Christine … birth date: Aug. 21, 1991.

Jennie Lee, 21, of Henderson, Nev.

A member of the USA’s victorious 2006 Curtis Cup team a member of the victorious 2007 USA team at Copa de las Americas … member of 2006 USA Women’s World Amateur Team Championship squad … has played in four U.S. Women’s Amateurs (2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007) … has advanced to the quarterfinals three times, in 2005, 2006 and 2007 … tied for low-amateur honors at 2007 Women’s Open … also made the cut at the 2004 Women’s Open and missed the cut at the 2006 championship by two strokes … a member of NCAA Division I national championship team at Duke (2006, 2007) … the 2006 NCAA Division I individual runner-up … … two-time collegiate All-American, earning second-team honors in 2006-07 and an honorable mention selection in 2005-06 … a three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team honoree … medalist at 2006 North and South Women’s Amateur … played in the 2007 LPGA Tour’s Kraft Nabisco Championship … won five AJGA titles, including the 2003 Polo Golf Classic … a first-team AJGA Rolex All-American selection in 2004 and a second-team honoree in 2003 and 2005 … low competitive score is 65 at 2003 Polo Junior Golf Classic … holds U.S. citizenship … a junior at Duke University in 2007-08 … daughter of Young Chun and Young Ran Lee … has one brother, Daniel … born Nov. 6, 1986 in Seoul, Korea.

Stacy Lewis, 22, of The Woodlands, Texas

Won the 2007 NCAA Division I individual national title … shot a final-round 6-under 66 to claim the championship … a member of the victorious 2007 USA team at Copa de las Americas … finished fifth at the 2007 LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship to earn low-amateur honors … shot a 65 at the 2007 LPGA Tour NW Arkansas Championship and led after the first round of the event, which was eventually canceled after one round due to weather … qualified for the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open, where she missed the cut … won the 2007 Women’s Southern Amateur, 2007 Susie Maxwell Berning Invitational, 2007 UA Ann Rhoads Intercollegiate, 2007 Stanford Intercollegiate, 2006 Harder Hall Invitational, the 2006 National Western Amateur, the 2006 World University Golf Championship (Italy), the 2005 and 2008 Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitationals, the 2008 Bryan National and the 2005 Central District Invitational … was a semifinalist at the 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur and the North and South Women’s Amateur Championship … won the 2005 SEC individual title, shooting a school-record 67 on the final day to win by six strokes … named the 2007-08 SEC Player of the Year after winning the 2008 SEC individual title … also named the 2008 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year … earned All-SEC first-team honors for all four years at Arkansas … SEC Freshman of the Year in 2004-05 … earned first-team NCGA All-America honors in 2004-05 and 2006-07 and was an honorable-mention selection in 2005-06 … runner-up at the 2006 Women’s Southern Amateur … also made the cut at the 2007 LPGA Tour Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic … named the 2007 Dinah Shore Trophy Award winner … a senior at the University of Arkansas in 2007-08 … was a medical redshirt in 2003-04 after having back surgery (scoliosis) …daughter of Dale and Carol … has two sisters, Beth and Janet … birth date: Feb. 16, 1985.

Alison Walshe, 23, of Westford, Mass.

Won the 2008 Harder Hall Invitational … won the 2004 Big East Conference title while attending Boston College … was the 2003-04 Big East Conference Player of the Year … also attended Tulane University, where she won the 2005 Conference USA Championship and was named the 2005 Conference USA Player of the Year and the Louisiana Player of the Year … transferred to Arizona in the fall of 2006 after Tulane shut down its golf program following Hurricane Katrina … also won the 2007 North and South Women’s Amateur Championship … collegiate victories include the 2008 Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational … co-medalist at the 2007 Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational and the 2008 NCAA West Regional … counts among her collegiate victories the 2007 BYU Dixie Classic, 2006 Stanford Invitational, 2006 Mason Rudolph Championship 2004 Hartford Womens Invitational and 2003 Rutgers Invitational … earned first-team NCGA All-America honors in 2006-07 and was a second-team selection in 2005-06 …has earned first-team honors in three different conferences (Pac-10 in 2006-07 and 2007-08, Conference USA in 2004-05 and Big East in 2003-04) … has a career-low round of 66, shot at the 2007 Harder Hall … has two holes-in-one … a senior at the University of Arizona in 2007-08 … daughter of Mary and John … has one brother, Dave, and one sister, Jane … born in Galway, Ireland on May 14, 1985.

Great Britain & Ireland Team Profile

Elizabeth Bennett, 25, Brokenhurst Manor, England

The English women’s stroke-play amateur champion of 2006 boosted her selection hopes early in 2007 by winning the Hampshire County and ELGA South-East Divisional Championships. In the same year, Bennett represented GB&I in the Vagliano Trophy against the Continent of Europe and reached the quarterfinals of the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship. She also won the South Atlantic Ladies Amateur and reached the semifinals of the Jones/Doherty Championship in 2008.

Carly Booth, 15, Comrie, Scotland

Booth makes her debut as the youngest ever GB&I player to be selected. Currently based in Phoenix, Ariz., she racked up a number of championship wins in 2007 including the European Young Masters and two Scottish titles, the Under 18 (Close) Girls and Under 21 Junior Open Stroke Play. She also earned a sixth-place finish at the St Rule Trophy, St Andrews and finished 13th at the De Vere Ladies’ Scottish Open.

Krystle Caithness, 19, St Regulus Golf Club, Scotland

Former winner of St Rule Trophy at St Andrews and member of St Regulus Golf Club, St Andrews. Member of GB&I team Great Britain that secured their third straight win in the Commonwealth Tournament in South Africa.

Jodi Ewart, 20, Catterick, England

The 2007 English Stroke play champion gained her place in the team following notable successes on the US college circuit including six top-10 finishes in 2006-07. A student at the University of New Mexico, Ewart won the Mountain West Conference Championship (2007) and was named the conference’s player of the year. Back in the UK, she was third qualifier in the 2007 Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship and in 2006 won the English Northern Ladies Championship and Daily Telegraph Girls Championship in Dubai

Breanne Loucks, 20, of Wrexham, Wales

Loucks is the most experienced player for the GB&I side, producing a 100% winning record in the 2006 Curtis Cup. In addition to representing Wales in the Home Internationals in 2007 she represented GB&I in the Vagliano Trophy and Acer Five Nations Tournament. A win at the 2007 Welsh Ladies (Close) Amateur Championship and a joint fourth finish at the 2008 Portuguese Women’s Open Amateur Championship sealed her place.

Florentyna Parker, 18, Royal Birkdale, England

Also a member of Gut Waldhof Golf Club in Germany, the 2006 Lancashire County Champion highlighted her ability in match play by being selected twice for the Junior Solheim Cup Team (2005 & 2007), scoring maximum points last year in helping Europe beat the US. Named as third reserve for the 2006 Curtis Cup match, she helped her selection chances by winning the 2007 French under 21 Junior Women’s Open Championship and was runner-up at the 2007 Ladies’ British Stroke Play Championship. Remaining on form this season, she was the runner-up at the Portuguese Amateur Championship.

Michele Thomson, 19 McDonald Ellon, Scotland

The 2006 Scottish Schools Girls Champion made an early bid in 2007 for a Curtis Cup spot with impressive performances, reaching the quarterfinals of the Ladies Amateur Championship and the semifinals of the Scottish Ladies Amateur. In the same year, Thomson was selected for Scotland to participate in the International matches, won the Aberdeenshire County Championship and the Ness Open. This season top-three finishes in the South Atlantic Ladies Amateur and Portuguese Women’s Amateur cemented her place.

Sally Watson, 16, Elie & Earlferry, Scotland

Watson, the second youngest on the team, attends the David Leadbetter Academy in the US and earlier in the year won the Leadbetter Girls Championship in Florida. Her performance throughout the 2007 Ricoh Women’s British Open over the Old Course, St Andrews will have impressed the selectors. Sally was a member of the victorious 2007 Junior Solheim Cup Team and Scottish team that retained the Girls International Matches. She finished 19th in the De Vere Ladies’ Scottish Open, a Ladies’ European Tour Event.

History of the Event

Officially named “The Women’s International Cup,” the cup for the Curtis Cup Match was offically presented in 1932 by Harriot and Margaret Curtis, sisters who won the U.S. Women’s Amateur four times between them. The cup, a silver bowl of Paul Revere design, is inscribed, “To stimulate friendly rivalry among the women golfers of many lands.” The cup was first presented in 1927 to give momentum to the competition, but play didn’t begin until 1932, largely because of financial reasons.

As beloved as the Curtis Cup Match is among those who have battled for it, no other USGA competition has had such problems getting off the ground.

The Match has its origins in an informal match played in 1905. Frances Griscom, of Philadelphia, the 1900 U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion, suggested that it would be fun for a group to play in the British Ladies Open Amateur, at Cromer, England. Eight Americans made the trip to play, including Miss Griscom, Georgianna Bishop, the 1904 Women’s Amateur Champion, and Harriot and Margaret Curtis.

An informal match developed between the Americans and a team from Britain. Although the USA was soundly beaten, the exhilaration and goodwill established by their visit always stayed with the competitors, particularly with Margaret and Harriot Curtis.

Interest in an international match was revived at a 1924 meeting of the Women’s Eastern Golf Association and became a subject of discussion among the Association, the British Ladies’ Golf Union and the French Golf Union over the next five years. In 1927, the Curtis sisters gave the idea another push by donating a cup for an international match. Fanny Osgood, of Boston, was appointed to again take up the matter with the LGU. A match was tentatively planned for 1928, but financial obstacles made it impossible.

In 1928, the USGA Women’s Committee appointed a subcommittee to consider an international match, but the idea was stymied by the usual lack of money. In 1930, the great American amateur Glenna Collett took matters into her own hands and arranged for a group of her countrywomen to play in Great Britain.

In 1931, the LGU agreed to regular matches with the United States. The USGA then decided to finance the American team and administer the competition. The Curtis Cup was accepted that same year as the official trophy.

The series began the following year with the United States opposing Great Britain, with a proviso that France might join in whenever it was able to do so. While it was hoped that many nations would eventually join in the Match, the Curtis Cup has remained a two-sided competition.

The first Curtis Cup Match was played in 1932 at Wentworth Golf Club, in England. Marion Hollins captained the American team, which consisted of Mrs. Vare, Maureen Orcutt, Virginia Van Wie, Opal Hill, Helen Hicks, Leona Pressler Cheney, and Dorothy Higbie. The team representing Great Britain and Ireland was made up of Joyce Wethered, the famous English champion who also served as captain, Wanda Morgan, Enid Wilson, Molly Gourlay, Doris Park, Diana Fishwick, Elsie Corlett, and Mrs. J.B. Watson, The Americans prevailed, 51¼2 to 31¼.

Although the Americans dominated until recent years, the true meaning of the Curtis Cup Match has never been overshadowed by the results and the Match has always been regarded as a vehicle of international friendship and understanding.

Event Scoring

Live scoring will be available through accessing lgu.org website.

Par and Yardage – The Old Course at St. Andrews will be set up at 6,638 yards and par is 36-36—72.

Gof Course Architect – The Old Course was not designed by an architect but has evolved over six centuries. Golf was first played over the Old Course in the early 1400s.

Schedule of Play – On May 30 and May 31 there will be three foursomes and three four-ball matches. On June 1 there will be eight singles matches (18 holes each).

Starting Times –
Friday: 8 a.m. for foursomes; 12:15 p.m. for four-balls
Saturday: 8 a.m. for foursomes; 12:15 p.m. for four-balls
Sunday: 10 a.m. for singles

The 2008 Match will be the first year for the three-day format. The four-ball matches will be new to the Curtis Cup.

What is the Curtis Cup Match? – The Curtis Cup Match is contested by women amateur golfers, one team from the United States of America (USA) and one team from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales (GB&I). The teams consist of not more than eight players and a captain. The Match is conducted every two years, alternately in the United States and Great Britain/Ireland.

Foursome – A match where two players compete against two other players in alternate-shot format, with each side playing just one ball.

Four-Ball – A match in which two players (side) play their better ball against the better ball of the two other players (side).

Singles – A match in which one player plays against another.

TV Coverage - SKY Sports

Scoring – A victory in each match scores one point. In the event a match goes 18 holes without a decision, one-half point is awarded to each side.

Opening and Closing Ceremonies – The flag raising ceremony will be held at the Old Course at St. Andrews at 6 p.m. on May 29. The closing ceremony will be held immediately following play Sunday. Both events are open to the public.

The Curtis Cup in Scotland – This will be the fifth Curtis Cup Match played in Scotland. The Match was played at Gleneagles in 1936; Muirfield in 1972 and 1984; and Western Gailes in 1972. It will be the first time the women amateurs of Great Britain and Ireland and the USA will contest the Curtis Cup at St. Andrews.

Future Sites – Essex County Club in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass., will host the 2010 Match from June 11-13. The 2012 Curtis Cup will be held from June 8-10 at Nairn Golf Club in Scotland.

GB & Ireland Captain Mary McKenna and Coach Lawrence Farmer