Scot Elaine Farquharson-Black, a former Curtis Cup and Vagliano Trophy player, has been appointed by the Ladies’ Golf Union to Captain the Great Britain & Ireland golf teams for 2015 and 2016. She succeeds Tegwen Matthews who famously led GB&I to victory in the 2012 Curtis Cup match at Nairn.
Elaine, who hails from Aberdeen, will lead her teams in:-
• The Astor Trophy tournament, against Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa at the Grange Golf Club, Adelaide, South Australia in January 2015;
• The biennial Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe, at Malone Golf Club, Belfast next June; and
• The 39th Curtis Cup match against the United States of America, at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club, near Dublin, in June 2016.
The last time a Scot captained GB&I in the Curtis Cup was almost 40 years ago, when the renowned Belle Robertson served twice in the role, in 1974 and 1976.
Farquharson-Black followed a distinguished amateur career (which included playing in the winning Curtis Cup team of 1992) with a brief time in the professional ranks. She is now a partner in a leading commercial law firm. Elaine has an abundance of international golf experience, both as team captain and player.
“I am honoured and delighted to be invited to be the next GB&I Captain. Having played for GB&I in two Vaglianos, two Curtis Cups, a Commonwealth Tournament (Astor Trophy) and the World Four-Ball Championship, captaining GB&I was one of my few remaining golfing ambitions,” she said.
She captained the Junior Vagliano team at Chantilly in France last June.
“Captaining the Junior Vagliano team and accompanying this year’s Curtis Cup team to St Louis, means I have already had an opportunity to get to know a number of the players who are likely to be in the running for selection in 2015-16.
“We have a good pool of very talented players. Playing in front of home crowds in Belfast and Dublin will hopefully provide an extra boost, as happened in Nairn in the 2012 Curtis Cup match, and help us to regain both the Vagliano Trophy and the Curtis Cup.”
LGU Chairman Trish Wilson said “We are delighted that Elaine has accepted the post of Captain. She brings to the role a wealth of experience and already has an excellent rapport with the players, who will benefit greatly from being led by such a respected Captain and proven winner.”
