PAMELA AND KELSEY ARE OVER THE MOON AT GB TEAM SELECTION

The two Scots - Pamela Pretswell and Kelsey MacDonald - named earlier today in the Great Britain side of five for the Astor Trophy international team event did not know of their selection until it was announced.
So you can imagine their reaction to the news that they would be playing against most of the best female amateurs in the world from New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and Australia.

PAMELA PRETSWELL said
"Delighted to be selected for the Astor Trophy team. It is such a great honour to play for Great Britain and Ireland.
"I loved every minute of playing in the Vagliano Trophy two years ago and the Curtis Cup last year, so I am very much looking forward to the event and trying to defend the title that was won by Britain in South Africa four years ago."

KELSEY MacDONALD said

"Still have not taken it in that I have been chosen to play for Great Britain for the first time.

"The news is fantastic as 2010 was my best season to date and this is a huge

boost for the start of 2011.

"I am very happy, delighted to be rewarded with this selection."

The Astor Trophy tournament which is a round-robin team-match playe event will be hosted by Fairhaven Golf Club at Lytham St Annes, Lancashire from Wednesday to Sunday, June 15 to 19.

It promises to be a great event, not only for players such as Pamela and Kelsey but also spectators because the field is made up of the very best female amateurs in the world.

The two girls ranked No 1 and No 3 in the Women's World Amateur Rankings - Lydia Ko and Cecilia Cho - will be spearheading  a New Zealand team which will start favourites to take the title.

Lydia, a South Korean-born Aucklander, had her 14th birthday only a couple of weeks ago - April 24 to be precise, while Cecilia will be 17 on November 16.

Lydia Ko's handicap is a staggering +6.2 and Cecilia has a rating of +4.5.

They are not only great friends but great rivals, disputing the major women's titles in Australia and their native New Zealand over the past two seasons Down Under.

Ko, pictured right, from the North Shore Golf Club, holds both the New Zealand and Australian WOMEN'S amateur title. She beat Cho 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final of the NZ event a day or two before her 14th birthday.

Cho was NZ women's amateur champion in 2009 and 2010.

Most of the Astor Trophy team stars will arrive a week early and compete in the British women's open amateur championship over the classic Royal Portrush links on the northerly coast of Northern Ireland - where Max Faulkner, in 1951, won the Open championship on the only occasion it has been played at a venue outside Scotland or England.

 COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com