O’Sullivan to captain Curtis Cup team again

IRELAND’S Ada O’Sullivan has been re-appointed captain of the Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup team which will take on America in Oregon in 2006.

O’Sullivan captained the &team which came so close to beating the Americans at Formby last June and last night the Ladies’ Golf Union announced she would be re-appointed to the post with immediate effect and will next year captain the &side which defends the Vagliano Trophy against Europe, before bringing the Curtis Cup team to America in 2006.

“I’m delighted to have been named as captain for both matches,” she said last night, adding that she had actually been approached to take on the job in the immediate aftermath of the loss at Formby, but was so upset at the result, she had needed more time to think about it.

“This is not the sort of honour that is accorded to everyone and I feel very privileged to have been asked to take the job on again,” she said.

“I was asked shortly afterwards, would I do so, but I needed time to think about it after losing to the Americans. I don’t think I have ever been on such a low because I never even contemplated losing.

“That said, though, we put a lot of work into the preparation for Formby and I have to say I enjoyed every minute of the work, other than the half an hour on the Sunday afternoon when it became clear the Americans were going to win.”

With Team Manager Fiona Norris also having been re-appointed, the Monkstown golfer, is looking forward, first to the Vagliano Trophy which will be played for at Chantilly next July, before the Curtis Cup on July 22/3, 2005 at Bandon Dunes in Oregon.

“The Vagliano is only a stepping stone to the Curtis Cup, but now I have been re-appointed we can get on with the business of looking at the players and naming an elite squad that will form the nucleus of the side for the march on America in two years time.”

O’Sullivan, who runs the family electrical business with her brother, said the Curtis Cup job was not one she could do without the support of her family.

The CEO of the LGU, Andy Salmon, said last night that re-appointing the Corkwoman to the job was one of the easiest decisions the union has had. “Ada has done a tremendous job with the squad over the past two years and we are delighted she has decided to accept the role.”