GB&I girls to face Europe in new event

FILLING what has been described as a "gap in the fixture list", a girls' equivalent of the Vagliano Trophy clash between Great Britain & Ireland and the Continent of Europe is to be held for the first time this year.

The match at Royal Porthcawl on 24-25 June will involve teams of six players aged 16 and under, the format being two sets of three foursomes and two sets of six singles.

"The standard of girls' golf is improving all the time, and it was apparent to us that the top girls really deserve the same playing opportunities as their boy counterparts," said Gillian Kirkwood, Chairman of the Ladies Golf Union.

"The absence of a girls' international match was a gap in the schedule of events, and its institution provides an ideal platform for introducing talented young golfers to the pressures and pleasures of team match play golf."

The new match, the name of which will be announced in the next few weeks, will be played concurrently with the Vagliano Trophy, falling in line with the St Andrews Trophy and Jacques Leglise Trophy in men's and boys' golf respectively.

The two teams will be announced at the end of May.