Monday 21st December, 2009

Florida trip can focus Kelsey's Curtis Cup dream!

Scottish Ladies Junior Open Strokeplay champion Kelsey MacDonald is hopeful a repeat performance in Florida can boost her Curtis Cup prospects.

The 19-year-old University of Stirling golf scholar is part of the 2010 Great Britain & Ireland squad for the biennial match against the United States of America next June.

And with few events in between now and the eight woman team being named at the end of April, Winning Student* Kelsey knows another strong showing over three tournaments in the Orange Blossom Tour can put her in a great position.

Kelsey, a Sports Studies student and part of Stirling's International Sports Scholarship Programme, which boasts British Open champion Catriona Matthew amongst its alumni, finished runner-up in the 2009 South Atlantic Ladies Amateur Championship - or 'The Sally' as the tournament is more affectionately known.

And a memorable first Orange Blossom outing was completed when she reached the final of the Jones/Doherty matchplay. "I had a really good experience last year, which was great," said Kelsey, from Nairn Dunbar. "I think the fact the weather was terrible gave me an advantage as it was just like playing back at home.

"I went out just for the experience and to get back to competitive action so I surprised myself at how well it went. I was able to relax as I had no real expectations, but this year, with my previous form and being in the Curtis Cup squad, it is a bit more pressured.

"On the other hand, I have the advantage of having played the courses before and I go into it feeling positive, so I'll just go and do my best."

There are six Scots in the current Curtis Cup squad vying for a place in the team to take on the USA at Essex County Golf Club in Massachusetts from June 11. The Ladies Golf Union is expected to make its final selection straight after the Helen Holm Scottish Ladies' Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Troon on April 25.

Kelsey added: "The Orange Blossom Tour is an early opportunity for me to show the selectors what I can achieve, but you have to play consistently well throughout the season too. I will be playing in a couple more tournaments soon after so if things don't go too well in the States, it's not the end of the dream."

Six golfers from Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence will set off for Florida on January 4, competing at the Harder Hall Invitation (Sebring), The Sally (Oceanside Country Club) and the Jones/Doherty matchplay (Coral Ridge CC).

Joining Kelsey in the fifth University trip to the Tour are: Irish Girls internationalist Rachel Cassidy, Scottish U18 Internationalist Rebecca Wilson, Harriet Beasley, Jordana Graham and Eilidh Mackay.

University of Stirling women's high performance golf coach Lesley Mackay, a former Scottish and British International player, said: "Kelsey's performances last year were incredible and would have earned her a place in the American Curtis Cup team so she will be keen to repeat the achievement. It is great for the girls to test themselves against the best players in the world and experience different courses and conditions.

"Even just the experience of travelling as a group to a different country is an important one for any golfer as they develop their game. But we are going there to compete, not just make up the numbers."