KirkwoodGolf

Monday, February 08, 2010


Jodi Ewart in action for the University of New Mexico on the US women's college circuit.

Blow to GB&I hopes: Jodi Ewart

to turn pro before Curtis Cup
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Great Britain & Ireland's hopes of regaining the Curtis Cup from the grasp of the United States in the June 11 to 13 match at Essex County Club, Manchester by the Sea, Massachusetts have taken a knock with the news that Jodi Ewart will be ineligible for selection.
She has decided to turn professional without delay after she completes her four-year degree course at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
She will also miss the Ladies British open amateur championship at Ganton Golf Club (June 22 to 26) in her home county of Yorkshire over a course she knows well and would have been one of the title contenders.
Miss Ewart (pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency) from Middleham, Yorkshire and a member at Catterick Golf Club, had her 22nd birthday on January 7 this year. She was the English women's stroke-play champion in 2008 and has won several events on the US women's college circuit over the past four years.
Most pundits would have considered her a certainty to be one of the eight-strong Great Britain & Ireland team for this years Curtis Cup match.
Her circumstances changed when, competing as an amateur, she gained playing rights for the 2010 Duramed Futures Tour, America's No 2 ladies pro circuit, at its Qualifying School late last year.
In an E-mail from Albuquerque, Jodi said:
" I have decided to make myself unavailable for Curtis Cup team selection. This was not an easy decision, and one that I have been going back and forth over for the past two months.
" I came to the decision that for my future I need to play in as many Futures Tour events as I can, and playing in the Curtis Cup would make this very difficult.
" I know that there is a huge amount of young talent in Britain at the moment, and what ever GB&I team gets selected they will win. I feel that my experience at St.Andrews (the 2008 Curtis Cup match over the Old Course) is one that can never be topped and it's time to give that experience to someone else.
"It was a decision I needed to make by myself and believe that I made the right one for my future. I know people will be disappointed but I hope they understand my very difficult situation."
Any comments? You can E-mail them to Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Labels: