Curtis Cup could provide fitting finale for Hudson

Great Britain and Ireland will try to prevent the Americans making it three victories in a row when the 32nd Curtis Cup starts today over the 6,358-yard Fox Chapel course here.

America won 10-8 at Ganton in Yorkshire two years ago, which was the same score when they defeated Great Britain and Ireland in the States in 1998. However, the visiting team's captain, Pam Benka, believes she has a "terrific" side capable of bringing the trophy back across the Atlantic.

Since the Cup was first played for in 1932, America have won on 22 occasions and Great Britain and Ireland six times. There have been three halved encounters.

Rebecca Hudson, the British Women's Open amateur champion from Wheatley in Yorkshire, is making her third and probably last Curtis Cup appearance as it seems highly likely that she will soon take the plunge into the paid ranks.

The talented Hudson, who has had a clean sweep of all major titles back home including the English and British matchplay and strokeplay crowns, has always made it clear that her burning ambition is to be on a winning Curtis Cup side.

"I believe we have a great team. There is a magnificent spirit and I'm sure we can triumph," the 23-year-old said.

The only other player in the side with Curtis Cup experience is the oldest member of the team, 31-year-old Emma Duggleby, who is considering retirement from top-level competitive golf at the end of this season, as is Ireland's Alison Coffey, who has played in the World Team Championships, but never the Curtis Cup.

Coffey, a civil engineer in Belfast, is thinking that her days of golf at this level are numbered, while the Welsh teenager Sarah Jones, a surprise choice in the eight-player line-up, is the youngest member of the side.

America include the remarkable Semple Thompson playing in her 12th Curtis Cup match at the age of 53. The other seven players are aged between 20 and 22.

Before leaving for the States, the Great Britain and Ireland team were given a reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by the Duke of York.

On both of the two days of competition, three foursomes and six singles are played. Great Britain and Ireland will need nine and a half out of the 18 points at stake to regain the trophy they last won at Killarney six years ago.