HANNAH BURKE? YES, SHE'S

TOP GB&I AMATEUR IN

FINAL EUROPEAN
RANKINGS FOR 2007

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

One of the most intriguing observations to come out of the European Golf Association's release of its final women's amateur rankings for 2007 is that if the Great Britain & Ireland team of eight for the Curtis Cup match over the Old Course, St Andrews in just five months' time were chosen from the top eight eligible players in the rankings, it would be:

22nd Hannah Burke (Mid-Herts & Baylor University, Texas).
23rd Breanne Loucks (Wrexham).

24th Tara Delaney (Carlow & Kent State University, Ohio).

24th Krystle Caithness (St Regulus & Georgia University).
31st Elizabeth Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor).

35th Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan)

36th Jodi Ewart (Catterick & New Mexico University).
38th Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down & Texas A&M University).

Hannah Burke? Yes, the Mid-Herts player (pictured above) who, as a Baylor University, Texas student won an event on the American college circuit a month or two ago and finished third in another is the leading British or Irish player in 22nd place in the EGA rankings after discounting those above her who have turned professional - Melissa Reid and Rachel Bell.

Hannah is NOT a member of the Ladies Golf Union Elite winter training squad, which is not surprising, given that she has no "form" in British tournaments.

There are several basic flaws in the European Golf Association rankings' system. One is that too many points are awarded for performances on the American college circuit which, of course, is "closed" to all but student golfers.

Yet, no points can be earned in "closed" events in Europe, such as the Scottish, English, Irish and Welsh national championships. That means Jenna Wilson received no EGA rankings points for winning the "Scottish" and Naomi Edwards none for becoming English champion.
And the counting events designated by the European Golf Association do not include the St Rule Trophy which nowadays attracts an international field.

It would take an Einstein to come up with a perfect women's ranking system. The R&A backroom boys eventually produced an excellent World Amateur Golfing Ranking system for men. I believe they are working on setting up an equivalent one for women.