FarHills, N.J. – Seven-time USGA champion Carol Semple Thompson of Sewickley,Pa., has been re-appointed as the captain for the 2008 United States ofAmerica Curtis Cup team, the United States Golf Association has announced.
The2008 Curtis Cup Match will be played over the Old Course, St Andrews,Scotland, from May 30 – June 1.
The Curtis Cup is a biennialcompetition between female amateur teams from the USA and Great Britainand Ireland. The first Match was held in 1932 at Wentworth (England) GolfClub and the USA owns a 25-6-3 record, including victories in the lastfive Matches.
Thompson, 57, served ascaptain of the USA squad that won the 2006 Match at Bandon(Ore.) Dunes Golf Resort by an 11½-6½margin. She competed on arecord 12 USA Curtis Cup teams, including the 2002 squad in her home areaof Pittsburgh, Pa., when she holed a 27-foot putt from just off the 18thgreen at Fox Chapel Golf Club to retain the Curtis Cup for the Americanside. Thompson owns an overall Curtis Cup match-play record of 18-15-4,including 9-8-1 in singles competition.
"I’m so honored to be selectedto captain the team again," said Thompson. "Serving as captain of the teamthat won the Curtis Cup at Bandon Dunes was such a wonderful experience,and I’m really looking forward to bringing the next team to St.Andrews."
Thompson’s first USGA titlecame at the 1973 U.S. Women’s Amateur when she defeated Anne Quast Sanderin the final, 1 up, at Montclair (N.J.) Golf Club. She went on to win the1990 and 1997 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur titles and four consecutive USGASenior Women’s Amateur crowns (1999-2002). In August of 2005, Thompsoncompeted in her 100th individual USGA competition when she played in theU.S. Women’s Amateur at Ansley Golf Club’s Settindown Creek Course inRoswell, Ga. She has since increased her total of USGA championships to103, including 32 U.S. Women’s Opens.
In addition to her Curtis Cupexperience, Thompson also played in five Women’s World Amateur TeamChampionships for the USA. Thompson’s father, Harton S. Semple, waspresident of the USGA from 1974-75, and her mother, Phyllis, has beenactive on various USGA committees.
The 2008 Curtis Cup will be ameeting of two captains who have represented their respective sides playedin more Matches than anyone. The Great Britain and Ireland squad will becaptained by Mary McKenna, who played on a record nine Curtis Cup teams.McKenna represented the GB&Iat every Match from 1970 to 1986, andholds a5-9-4record in foursomes and a5-5-2record in singles.
The 2008 Match at St. Andrewswill also mark a change in format for the Curtis Cup. The Match willchange to a three-day format, featuring three foursomes and threefour-ball (better-ball) matches on the first two days. On the final day,there will be eight singles matches, meaning all eight players from eachside will compete in singles.
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