Eight golfers have been selected to represent Great Britain and Ireland against the United States of America in the 44th Curtis Cup match at Bel-Air Country Club – including Northumberland’s Charlotte Naughton and Yorkshire’s Lily Hirst.
The biennial encounter will take place at the Los Angeles venue on June 12-14, with GB&I bidding to retain the trophy after a memorable 10½-9½ victory at Sunningdale in 2024. Catriona Matthew OBE returns as captain, with GB&I aiming for a first win on American soil since 1986.
Catriona, who led Europe to back-to-back Solheim Cup triumphs in 2019 and 2021, said: “I’m really looking forward to the match at Bel-Air. We have selected eight players who we believe will provide us with the best opportunity of retaining the Curtis Cup.
“With a number of players turning professional since the last match, we have a new, exciting team. In terms of the amateur rankings, we will be the underdogs but we also were at Sunningdale. It’s going to be a challenge but in matchplay anyone can beat anyone and it’s just trying to instil that belief in my players.
“I’ve enjoyed my role as captain. It’s great fun to see the next generation come through, getting to know them and trying to help them. We are all preparing to give our best at Bel-Air next month.”
The top five players on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and three selections make up the GB&I side. Beth Coulter (Ireland, Kirkistown Castle, 22) and Patience Rhodes (England, Burnham & Berrow, 22) return to the team after playing key roles at Sunningdale.
The side also includes Sophia Fullbrook (England, The Melbourne Club, 20), who has enjoyed three wins on the US college circuit with Florida State University this year; and teenager Nellie Ong (England, Eaton, 19), who has qualified for the US Women’s Open presented by Ally at nearby Riviera on the eve of the Curtis Cup. They will be joined by Isla McDonald-O’Brien (England, Shrewsbury, 19), who was part of GB&I’s victorious Vagliano Trophy team last year, winning each of her singles matches; and Davina Xanh (England, Burnham & Berrow, 22), who has demonstrated excellent recent form, recording five top 10 and eight top 20 finishes in her last 10 ranking events for California State University Fullerton including a maiden collegiate victory in March’s Ping ASU Invitational.
Huddersfield-based Lily, 23, secured a spot in the team after a superb run of form this spring. Victory in The Comboy Leveret, a WAGR event played at Formby Ladies and Delamere Forest, was followed by top five finishes at the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Championship, Welsh Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship, and German International Amateur Championship. She also finished T4 in the 2026 Rose Ladies Series professional event at West Lancs.
Longhirst Club-based Charlotte, 18, won the Junior Orange Bowl in January by seven strokes with a tournament record 10 under-par total. The youngest member of the GB&I team, she represented Europe at the Junior Ryder Cup last year, a week after winning the World Junior Girls Championship in Canada. Charlotte also won the 2025 German Girls’ International Amateur, and was runner-up in both the Girls’ Amateur Championship and St Rule Trophy. In the run-up to the Curtis Cup, she has finished third at the European Nations Cup – Copa Sotogrande and fifth in the German International Amateur Championship.
Meanwhile, Annabel Peaford (England, Walton Heath, 17) and Emma Fleming (Ireland, Elm Park, 21) have been named as reserves.
The Curtis Cup is a biennial eight-person amateur team competition between Great Britain and Ireland and the USA. It is played over three days with eight singles matches, six foursomes matches and six fourball matches. The USA leads the overall series 31-9-3.
