FIRST SCOTTISH CURTIS CUP CAPTAIN SINCE BELLE IN 74-76

ELAINE FARQUHARSON-BLACK TO BE 

GB and I TEAM CAPTAIN FOR 2015-2016

NEWS RELEASE FROM LADIES GOLF UNION

Scot Elaine Farquharson-Black, a former Curtis Cup and Vagliano Trophy player, has been appointed by the Ladies’ Golf Union to Captain the Great Britain and Ireland golf teams for 2015 and2016. She succeeds Tegwen Matthews who famously led GB and I to victory in the 2012 Curtis Cup match at Nairn.
Elaine, who hails from Aberdeen, will lead her teams in:
+The Astor Trophy tournament, against Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa at the Grange Golf Club, Adelaide, South Australia in January 2015;
+The biennial Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe, at Malone Golf Club, Belfast next June; and
+The 39th Curtis Cup match against the United States of America, at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club, near Dublin, in June 2016.

The last time a Scot captained GB and I in the Curtis Cup was almost 40 years ago, when the renowned Belle Robertson served twice in the role, in 1974 and 1976.
Farquharson-Black followed a distinguished amateur career (which included playing in the winning Curtis Cup team of 1992) with a brief time in the professional ranks. She is now a partner in a leading commercial law firm. 

Elaine has an abundance of international golf experience, both as team captain and player.
"I am honoured and delighted to be invited to be the next GB and I Captain. Having played for GB and I in two Vaglianos, two Curtis Cups, a Commonwealth Tournament (Astor Trophy) and the World Four-Ball Championship, captaining GB and I was one of my few remaining golfing ambitions," she said.
She captained the Junior Vagliano team at Chantilly in France last June.
"Captaining the Junior Vagliano team and accompanying this year's Curtis Cup team to St Louis, means I have already had an opportunity to get to know a number of the players who are likely to be in the running for selection in 2015-16.
"We have a good pool of very talented players. Playing in front of home crowds in Belfast and Dublin will hopefully provide an extra boost, as happened in Nairn in the 2012 Curtis Cup match, and help us to regain both the Vagliano Trophy and the Curtis Cup."
LGU Chairman Trish Wilson said “We are delighted that Elaine has accepted the post of Captain. She brings to the role a wealth of experience and already has an excellent rapport with the players, who will benefit greatly from being led by such a respected Captain and proven winner.”

Elaine with the Curtis Cup and her sons Michael (left) and Nicholas (right) in the Media Centre at the 2012 Curtis Cup match at Nairn (picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency).

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT ELAINE:

1 As the crow flies, Elaine lives only about two or three drivers away from Paul Lawrie in the Bieldside suburb to the west of Aberdeen. Both are honorary members of Deeside Golf Club. 

2 Elaine and Helen Dobson are undefeated women's world better-ball champions. The 1989 British women's amateur finalists, paired up by the LGU, won the tournament in Brazil later that year - and it has never been played again since!  

3 Elaine played in three British finals - and lost them all ... the 1987 and 1988 British girls' championships and the 1989 British women's amateur championship. Her conquerors in that sequence were Carol Swallow, Susan Shapcott and Helen Dobson.

3 Elaine and Catriona (Lambert) Matthew never lost a foursomes match for either Scotland or Great Britain and Ireland. 

4 The late Mark McCormack was ready to fix Elaine up with a golf scholarship at an American university but she decided the qualifactions she would gain there would not help her in the UK.

Wise decision. She graduated from Aberdeen University with a law degree which has served her well.