Irish trio named on Curtis Cup team

Maria Dunne has been named in the Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup team alongside fellow Irish stars Leona Maguire and Olivia Mehaffey.

Dunne, 32, was one of two picks by captain Elaine Farquharson-Black in the eight-strong team who will attempt to regain the trophy from the USA at Dun Laoghaire between June 10-12.

Dunne’s performance at last weekend’s Scottish Open Stroke Play Championship at Troon – where she finished third – will no doubt have played a part.

ILGU High-Performance manager David Kearney said: “She’s a great team player and will bring invaluable experience to the team.”

World number one Magure, 21 (Slieve Russell) was a cert as the top four players in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) and top two in the LGU Oder of Merit were automatic selections.

Royal County Down star and world number nine Mehaffey, 18, is one of five newcomers to the side.

Meanwhile, Naas star Jack Hume returns to the scene of Great Britain and Ireland’s glorious Walker Cup win this morning – as he goes for glory in the Lytham Trophy at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

The 22-year-old has been in sensational form so far in 2016 with victories at both the South African Stroke Play Championship at Blue Valley and the European Nations Cup at La Reserva in Spain already under his belt.

He also had a major hand in Europe’s successful defence of the Bonallack Trophy against Asia Pacific in Portugal, finishing with a perfect unbeaten record.

Hume will spearhead the Irish assault alongside the likes of Naas team mate Conor O’Rourke, Castle’s Alex Gleeson, Stuart Grehan (Tullamore), John-Ross Galbraith and Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy – who finished 10th at last year’s event.

Also competing are Rowan Lester (Hermitage), Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene), Rowan Mullarney (Galway), Colin Fairweather (Knock), Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk), Jonathan Yates (Naas), Robin Dawson (Tramore), Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock), Gary Collins (Rosslare), Eanna Griffin (Waterford), Eugene Smith (Ardee), Thomas Mulligan (Co. Louth) and Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint).