Ladies' Golf Union Secretary Resigns

Julie Hall, the secretary of the Ladies' Golf Union, has announced that she is resigning for personal reasons.

The highly respected official will honour her notice period which runs until August 31, and will be on duty when Great Britain & Ireland take on the Americans in the Curtis Cup at Ganton on June 24-25.

But 33-year-old Hall is keeping her future plans under wraps. "No one knows what my plans are and I am not prepared to discuss any speculation," she said.

LGU spokesman Stewart McDougall has denied suggerstions that Hall is about to take up a post at the LGU's landlords, the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. "Julie Hall is not leaving the LGU to work for the R&A," he said. "She is leaving for personal reasons, and no further statement will be made."

During her playing days, Hall was one of Britain's most successful amateur golfers. She played in four Curtis Cup matches, was Ladies British Open Amateur champion in 1990 and 1995, and also won the English ladies' title three times.

When she took up the most senior job in British women's amateur golf in December 1996, Hall desribed it at the time as "beyond her wildest dreams".

No indication has yet been given as to the identity of her successor.