SOUTH AFRICA NAME TEAM FOR ASTOR TROPHY AT FAIRHAVEN

South Africa are the first of the field of five countries to name their team for the Astor Trophy (formerly the Commonwealth Tournament), the ladies' amateur international team match-play event to be hosted by Fairhaven Golf Club, Lancashire from June 15 to 19.
It is:
Kim Williams (Centurion Country Club).
Age 20. Handicap +1.
Iliska Verwey (Kingswood Golf Estate)
Age 22. Handicap +1.
Bertine Strauss (Rustenburg (Golf Club)
Age 19. Handicap +1.
Henriette Frylinch (Waterkloof Golf Club).
Age 23. Handicap +1.
Tiffany Avern-Taplin (Southbroom Golf Cub).
Age 22. Handicap +1.
Team captain:
Sandra Winter (Kingswood Golf Estate).
Team manager:
Cynthia Rayner (Somserset West Golf Club).

Kim Williams won the Sanlam South African stroke-play championship and Iliska Verwey won the Sanlam South African match-play championship. This event was played at Rustenburg Golf Club from April 10 to 15.


The other countries taking part are:
Great Britain and Ireland.
Australia.
Canada.
New Zealand.

The tournament is played every fourth year and the most recent one, in 2007, was staged at Royal Johannesburg, South Africa and won by Great Britain.

Each match consists of two foursomes in the morning and five singles in the afternoon.

Great Britain has always won the tournament when it has been played in this country - 1959 at St Andrews, 1975 at Ganton, 1991 at Northumberland GC.

The trophy was presented by Nancy, Viscountess Astor and was first played for in 1959 under the title "The Commonwealth Tournament." This year's event is the first to be known as the Astor Trophy tournament and, for the first time, it will be a Great Britain and Ireland team of five players rather than Great Britain alone as has been the case since 1959

+There will be no admission charge for spectators at Fairhaven Golf Club.

Pictured below: The winning Great Britain team in South Africa in 2007. Left to right:

Melissa Reid, Breanne Loucks, Sue Turner (capt), Naomi Edwards, Krystle Caithness and Kerry Smith.

Melissa, Breanne and Krystle are now professionals on the Ladies European Tour. Kerry Smith has retired from tournament golf. Naomi Edwards played in the Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur championship at Troon at the weekend. Sue Turner led Wales to victory in the Women's Home International Matches of 2008 (at Wrexham) and 2009 (at Irvine).