England Golf has named the two squads aiming to strike gold at this year’s European Ladies’ and Girls’ Team championships.
Six girls will head to Iceland to represent England in the European Girls’ Team Championship from 5-9 July, including Arcot Hall’s Rachel Gourley and Close House’s Maggie Whitehead. They will be joined by Olivia Lee (Gerrards Cross GC, Hertfordshire), Isla McDonald O’Brien (Shrewsbury GC, Shropshire), Patience Rhodes (Burnham and Berrow GC, Somerset), and Ellen Yates (West Hill GC, Surrey) at Oddur Golf Club in Reykjavik.
On the same dates, England’s women will defend their European crown in Wales, with Whitley Bay’s Rosie Belsham returning to the team which won in spectacular fashion at Royal County Down in 2021. The women’s team also includes Annabell Fuller (Roehampton GC, Surrey), Charlotte Heath (Huddersfield GC, Yorkshire), Caley McGinty (Knowle GC, Gloucestershire), Amelia Williamson (Sheringham GC, Norfolk), and Lottie Woad (Farnham GC, Surrey).
Rebecca Hembrough, England Golf’s women’s performance manager, said: “It is incredibly exciting to see a full line-up of European teams following the last two years of disruption. The women will be going all out to retain the title with four players from the 2021 team back again and strengthened by an in-form Amelia Williamson and Lottie Woad, who has had a very convincing first half of the year across domestic, international and professional events.
“Our strong U18 team will get to tee it up in one of our biggest events and experience an intense week of the best European competition, following in the footsteps of the women who’ve shown what’s possible.”