CLAIRE DOWLING NAMED AS CURTIS CUP CAPTAIN

Claire Dowling, the former British Amateur Stroke Play Champion and legendary Irish International, has been confirmed as the captain of the Great Britain & Ireland Curtis Cup team for the match at Ganton Golf Club on 24-25 June 2000.

The 41 year old, who played four times in the biennial contest herself, immediately vowed to install the "Prairie Dunes" spirit into her changes in an attempt to regain the trophy from the United States in Yorkshire next summer.

Mrs Dowling (nee Hourihane) was a member of the 1986 GB&I side which memorably triumphed at Prairie Dunes course in Kansas, the first time in which any British or European golf team, male or female, had won on American soil.

"The Curtis Cup has always been the pinnacle for every amateur golfer and the same applies to the captaincy, I'm absolutely delighted to have been invited by the Ladies Golf Union," said Claire.

Mrs Dowling, who is a member of the same Copt Heath club as Walker Cup captain Peter McEvoy, will get her first taste of the GB&I captaincy when she leads the team into the Vagliano Trophy contest against the Continent of Europe at North Berwick on 23-24 July this year.

The United States are the current holders of the Curtis Cup having won in 1998 by 10 matches to 8 at the Minikhada Club, Minneapolis last August. It was, however, only the third success for the Americans since 1984 although they hold a convincing 21-6 lead overall with only three matches in the 67 year history of the contest having finished tied.