USA Curtis Cup team announcement from USGA
The USGA today unveiled its 2022 USA Curtis Cup team with three changes from the side who beat GB&I in Wales last year.
Merion in Philadelphia will host this year’s contest with the hosts retaining five of the line-up who retained the trophy at Conwy (12.5-7.5). The USA ‘eight’ once again includes the World No 1 – Rose Zhang.
Amelia Williamson and Emily Price to make Curtis Cup debuts at Merion
Joining Zhang & Co for the first time are 18-year-olds Amari Avery and Megha Ganne plus 20-year-old Latanna Stone, who finished second at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship earlier this month. Avery was fourth at the home of the Masters while Ganne finished 14th at last year’s US Women’s Open and led after the first round.
The precocious Ganne was a reserve last year and her inclusion bolsters a formidable-looking team, who will start as hot favourites at the legendary Pennsylvania venue.
She said: “I couldn’t be more proud or excited to compete in a Curtis Cup at a venue as special as Merion. I know it’s going to be a week I remember for the rest of my life.”
USA 2022 CURTIS CUP TEAM
• Amari Avery, 18, of Riverside, California
• Jensen Castle, 21, of West Columbia, South Carolina
• Megha Ganne, 18, of Holmdel, New Jersey
• Rachel Heck, 20, of Memphis, Tennessee
• Rachel Kuehn, 20, of Asheville, North Carolina
• Emilia Migliaccio, 22, of Cary, North Carolina
• Latanna Stone, 20, of Riverview, Florida
• Rose Zhang, 18, of Irvine, Califoria
The USA will also be able to call on the World No 3 Rachel Heck, World No 8 Rachel Kuehn and reigning US Amateur champion Jensen Castle.
Emilia Migliaccio, who will also be making her second appearance in the event, added: “My first experience in Wales was one of the best weeks of my life.
“Getting the opportunity to play in front of thousands of fans is something I will always remember, and I’m counting down the days until I get to hear those roaring cheers on home soil.”
The full GB&I team is set to be announced by the R&A on April 26th. Five days earlier British Girls champion Hannah Darling (Broomieknowe) and World No 13 Caley McGinty (Knowle) will be named as its first members as the two highest-placed players in the WAGR rankings. Scottish star Darling is currently 12th on the list.
The R&A announced a squad of 12 players last month and included in that were raft of possible debutants, including the likes of teenagers Beth Coulter (Ire) and Lottie Woad (Farnham). Norfolk’s Amelia Williamson, who is studying at Florida State, is expected to be one of the new faces. The Hunstanton golfer has been one of the most consistent performers on the Collegiate circuit during the last six months.