NO G B AND I PLACE FOR SALLY - SHE'S 209 IN WORLD RANKINGS

E-mail from Gordon G Simmonds

Reference GB and I team for Vagliano Trophy match (SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW IT)

Where's Sally Watson, two-time Curtis Cup player, Stanford University number one, leading Scot and fourth best British finisher in 2010 Espirito Santo Trophy, 2010 U.S. Women's Open participant (missed cut by a single stroke) etc. etc? Mysterious omission. Perhaps, she wasn't available?

 

Reply from Colin Farquharson

 I cannot speak on behalf of the LGU selection committee but Sally has not had a good 2010-2011 college golf year for Stanford - who are a struggling team round about her.

In the "old days," Sally Watson's CV - two-time Curtis Cup player, etc as you say, would have stood her in good stead when international teams were being selected. But not now. Current form is what counts.

In these days of weekly-updated Women's World Amateur Rankings, I have no doubt that the LGU selectors had studied them closely and seen Stephanie Meadow just outside the top 10, Leona Maguire within a couple of spots of her ... and Sally way down at No 209 (was 182 last week) in the world rankings.
Of the nine players and three reserves named for next month's Vagliano Trophy match, only Danielle McVeigh, is currently below Sally Watson in the WWAR. Danielle won the Irish close championship last week and her ranking does not yet include that.

At the same time, I have no doubt that Sally will rise again. A player of her class doesn't "lose" it completely as quickly as that.

I should think she will be out to prove the selectors wrong by going close to winning the Ladies British open amateur championship at Royal Portrush next week.

I hope so. The championship promises to be one of the best for years - it's Stephanie Meadow's home course, even though her parents took her off to America a few years ago to improve her golf more quickly (and the stratagem worked!).

I'm heading for Royal Portrush next week. I'm really looking forward to the LGU's flagship amateur event. If Sally Watson wins it, only her dad will be more than pleased than me.

Colin Farquharson

WORLD RANKINGS OF THE GB and I VAGLIANO TROPHY SQUAD
No 12 Stephanie Meadow.
No 14 Leona Maguire.
No 26 Pamela Pretswell.
No 38 Holly Clyburn.
No 47 Kelsey MacDonald
No 79 Amy Boulden.
No 135 Louise Kenney
No 160 Kelly Tidy
No 737 Danielle McVeigh
RESERVES
No 17 Charley Hull.
No 31 Lisa Maguire.
No 120 Charlotte Ellis.