by ELSPETH BURNSIDEBuchanan Castle’s Kylie Walker is competing in her fourth Home Internationals at Irvine this week, and she’s hoping it is her last as she aims to turn professional at the end of the year. But she is determined to go out on a high note by helping Scotland win for a first time in 18 years.
The 23-year-old is certainly confident that the amateur team can add to Catriona Matthew’s terrific victory in the Ricoh Women’s British Open last month and make it a summer to remember for the women’s game.
“Catriona’s win has done so much for Scottish golf, and Scottish women’s golf in particular,” said Kylie. “Now we’re all really up for victory this week. It’s a great team and this year feels different from before.
“There is terrific strength in depth and not a single weakness. Lesley Nicholson (team captain) has also been brilliant. She’s still young and she’d done it all, playing at Curtis Cup level and as a professional. She knows exactly what we need and want.
“National Coach Kevin Craggs is so upbeat and the team manager, Claire Hargan, still competes on the circuit and also has huge experience. Overall, there is such a good team spirit.”
Kylie reckons that home advantage could also be the key to ending a victory drought stretching back to Aberdovey in 1991, when Scotland successfully defended the title.
“We had a match against a Scottish Golf Union team of men in March and Irvine kindly allowed potential team members to have the courtesy of the course throughout the year. That has been really good and has let us all to get to know the course.”
Scottish Champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) and West of Scotland Champion Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) are the other West of Scotland players in the team.
The other five are Carly Booth (Comrie), Louise Kenney (Pitreavie), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), Laura Murray (Alford) and the one new cap, Jane Turner (Craigielaw).
Thanks go to Elspeth Burnside for this report --- To read some more go to the Gillian Kirkwood Website
