Helen Holm title-holder Danielle only a reserve for Ireland this year

Runner-up Nikki Foster and "Helen Holm" winner Danielle McVeigh pictured in front of the Troon scoreboard last year. Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

It's an old saying in sport that "you're only as good as your last win" ... and the Irish Ladies Golf Union has underlined it with its nomination of players to have their scores counted for Ireland in the International Team Event for the Ladies Golf Club Troon Salver, run in conjunction with this weekend's 54-hole Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Troon.

Last year's "Helen Holm" was won by Danielle McVeigh (Royal County Down Ladies) and the International Team title was won for Ireland by Danielle and Leona Maguire.

But Danielle, the defending champion, no less, is only reserve for Ireland at Troon this year with Leona and Lisa Maguire being the international team pairing. Lisa is pictured on right, Leona on left.

How can that be? I hear you ask.

Quite simple, really, One of the 16-year-old twins (Leona) won the Portuguese women's open amateur championship at the end of January and the other (Lisa) won the Spanish women's open amateur title in early March.
Scotland's pairing will be Curtis Cup player and British women's amateur stroke-play champion Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), a student at Glasgow University, and Stirling University student Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), the Scottish women's amateur champion and winner last week by 17 strokes of the British universities' women's stroke-play title.

England's pair for the International Team Event will be Curtis Cup player Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) and British women's amateur champion Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale).

Wales will be represented by St Andrews University student Gemma Bradbury (Cottrell Park) and Amy Boulden (Maesdhu).

PLAYING FOR THEIR COUNTRIES IN "HELEN HOLM"

BELGIUM

Fanny Cnops

Chloe Leurquin 

ENGLAND

Holly Clyburn

Kelly Tidy

Reserve Nikki Foster

GERMANY

Valerie Sternebeck

Vicki Troelisch

Reserve Nina Holleder

IRELAND

Leona Maguire

Lisa Maguire

Reserve Danielle McVeigh

SCOTLAND

Kelsey MacDonald

Pamela Pretswell

Reserve Louise Kenney

SWEDEN

Louise Kristersson

Therese Larsson

WALES

Amy Boulden

Gemma Bradbury