Ins and outs of golf life at the top

THERE are mixed emotions for two of South Yorkshire's golfing stars.

Danny Willett, the English Amateur champion from Rotherham GC, has been named in the England amateur squad for the first time.

However, Doncaster’s Rebecca Hudson suffered the disappointment of not being one of the three wild card selections for Europe’s Solheim Cup team to face the USA next month.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The first England cap continues a special summer for 19-year-old Willett who was recently named in the GB and N Ireland Walker Cup team to face the Americans in September.

This follows on his success in becoming Yorkshire Amateur champion and South of England Amateur Champion before becoming only the fifth Yorkshire golfer ever to win the national amateur title. Willett, studying at Jacksonville State University in Alabama, is in the 11-man squad for the Home Internationals at County Louth from September 19-21.

Meanwhile, Hudson just missed out on the Solheim Cup place she had set her mind on this season - but she will be first reserve.

Having just missed out on automatic qualification, she then had to await the decision of Solheim Cup captain Helen Alfedsson on the three wild cards but she went for two Swedes and a Dane.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, Hudson - who, as an amateur, competed successfuly in three Curtis Cups - was named as first reserve and would therefore step in should any of the 12 strong team have to pull out.

The Solheim Cup is in Halmstad, Sweden, from September 14-16.