HIGHEST AMATEUR ACCOLADE AS SHANNON SELECTED FOR CURTIS CUP
Aboyne Golf Club is celebrating after one of its leading lady golfers achieved the highest amateur accolade by being selected for the Great Britain & Ireland Curtis Cup team to play against the USA in New York in June.
Shannon McWilliam (pictured above) an 18-year old former pupil at Aboyne Academy who lives in Torphins, is the only Scottish girl selected for the 8-strong GB&I team which is captained for the second time by Elaine Farquharson-Black of Deeside.
The 40th Curtis Cup Match will be contested 8-10th June at Quaker Ridge Golf Club, in Scarsdale, New York. GB&I will defend the historic trophy after securing a win at Dun Laoghaire in Ireland two years ago.
Shannon said “I am absolutely honoured and over the moon to have been selected for the 2018 Curtis Cup. This has been my dream since I started playing golf at the age of 4. I could not have got to where I am today without the support of my family and friends, my coach Andrew Locke, Scottish Golf, Paul Lawrie Foundation, and of course Aboyne Golf Club and its members who have shown me such fantastic support and encouragement. I am so excited”.
Lady Captain at Aboyne Liz Taylor said “ The Ladies section, which incorporates our juniors through to our senior lady members, are thrilled with Shannon's selection. This is the culmination of many years of dedication to her sport traveling the length and breadth of the UK to establish her credentials and compete in top ranking competitions. We hope to use Shannon's fantastic success to further develop all our juniors especially the girls at Aboyne.”
Liz added, “Shannon follows in the prestigious footsteps of honorary member Jeanette Wright who represented the club four times in the Curtis Cup and daughter Pamela Wright who turned professional and went on to be Vice-Captain in the Solheim Cup.
Club President Justin Grant said “Aboyne has a long history of producing excellent young players who go on to represent the Club at the highest national and indeed international level. As a club we are incredibly proud of Shannon, she has worked so hard over the last few years, supported by her parents Steve and Julie and elder brother Lewis, and richly deserves this call up. She is a fantastic ambassador for the game and her success has no doubt encouraged many other youngsters in the area to try out the game of golf.
Everyone associated with the club are absolutely thrilled for her. I am sure she will do us proud".
