2009 SENIOR LADIES’ HOME INTERNATIONAL MATCHES
Newport Golf Club, Wales
September 29 - October 1, 2009
NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY LADIES GOLF UNION
Wales will be seeking to win the Sue Johnson Trophy for the second year in a row when the Senior Ladies’ Home International Matches are played on home turf at Newport Golf Club from 29th September to 1st October.
At Little Aston Golf Club last year, the Welsh became the first country to break England’s stranglehold on the title. They had previously won the championship every year since the over-50s tournament was first played at Whittington Heath in 2003. If they can repeat last year’s achievement, Wales will complete a magnificent double for the Principality’s female amateur golfers. A few weeks ago, at Irvine Golf Club, Ayrshire, Wales successfully defended the Women’s Home Internationals crown, coming from behind in the last hour’s play of the last day to beat Scotland who had looked to have one hand on the trophy.
Wales’ seniors have come a long way in the past 12 months. Perhaps surprise winners of the title at Little Aston, they can justifiably claim to be the favourites this time round.
Judging by their individual results in the recent Senior Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship at Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club, South Wales, Wales really do have an outstanding chance.
Former Curtis Cup player and many times Welsh amateur champion, Vicki Thomas (Carmarthen) won the Senior British title for the first time in impressive fashion, building up a big enough lead to be able to compensate for a final round without a single birdie.
Welsh team-mates Janet Doleman (Rushcliffe) and Jean O’Connor, who will be playing over her home Newport course, finished joint fourth … Jane Rees (Hendon) came seventh … and Ann Lewis (Royal St Davids) and Denise Richards (Bargoed) finished joint eighth.
In shooting terms, that was an excellent “grouping,” and one that should mean strength in depth for the Welsh team at Newport.
England will however still be hard to beat with Rozalyn Adams (Addington), who finished second behind Vicki Thomas, in the Senior Ladies British Open, Sue Dye (Delamere Forest), Janet Melville (Sherwood Forest) and Chris Quinn (Hockley) forming the backbone of a team that will be going all out to regain the trophy which they held for five years.
On the form shown by the squads at Dun Laoghaire, Ireland in the European senior ladies’ championship – in which, incidentally, Wales did not enter a team – England, who finished third, should have the edge over Scotland (sixth) and Ireland (eighth).
The top Scots performers in the Senior Ladies British Open amateur were Lorna Bennett (Ladybank), who made the top 10 for the second year in a row, St Andrews hotelier Fiona de Vries (St Rule) who shared 15th place, and Noreen Fenton (Dunbar) who finished joint 23rd.
Unfortunately, Lorna has had to withdraw from the Scotland squad for family reasons. She is replaced by Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose).
Ireland’s highest placed finished at Pyle & Kenfig was Helen Jones (Strabane) in joint eighth position with Sheena McElroy (Grange) and Marilyn Henderson (Castlerock) filling the 25th and 26th placings in the final totals.
There are slight differences for the format of the Senior Ladies’ Home Internationals in comparison to the other home internationals organised by the Ladies’ Golf Union.
Teams have only seven players, one fewer than the ladies and the girls. The number of morning foursomes, three, is the same but there are only five afternoon singles instead of six.

TEAMS AND OFFICIALS

ENGLAND
Captain - Sue Westall
Manager - Sue Timberlake
Rozalyn Adams (Addington)
Jo Ashmore (Barnham Broom)
Sue Dye (Delamere Forest)
Janet Melville (Sherwood Forest)
Lucy Newton (Matfen Hall)
Paula Parker (Abbotsley)
Chris Quinn (Hockley)

IRELAND
Captain - Roma English
Mary Gorry - Manager
Rhona Brennan (Bandon)
Pat Doran (Donabate)
Marilyn Henderson (Castlerock)
Helen Jones (Strabane)
Violet McBride (Belvoir Park)
Sheena McElroy (Grange)
Phil O'Gorman (Laytown & Bettystown)

SCOTLAND
Captain – Pamela Williamson
Manager – Janet Wake
Heather Anderson (Alyth)
Fiona de Vries (St Rule)
Noreen Fenton (Dunbar)
Fiona Hunter (Baberton)
Mary Smith (Tain)
Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose)
Moira Thomson (Gullane Ladies)

WALES
Captain - Verona McKenzie
Manager - Ann Johnson
Janet Doleman (Rushcliffe)
Ann Lewis (Royal St Davids)
Jean O'Connor (Newport)
Jane Rees (Hendon)
Denise Richards (Bargoed)
Vicki Thomas (Carmarthen)
Pam Valentine (Royal St. Davids)

PROGRAMME OF MATCHES
(Foursomes 08.00-08.50am; Singles 12.45-13.57)
TUESDAY 29th SEPTEMBER
Ireland v Scotland
Wales v England
WEDNESDAY 30th SEPTEMBER
England v Scotland
Wales v Ireland
THURSDAY 1st OCTOBER
Scotland v Wales
Ireland v England.