Curtis Cup stars join ISPS Handa Ladies British Masters field

Curtis Cup player Charley Hull

The 11 sponsor invitations for the ISPS Handa Ladies British Masters have been announced ahead of the inaugural tournament taking place at Buckinghamshire Golf Club in Denham from August 16-18.

England’s Charley Hull is one of three of the victorious Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup Team to have booked her place in the tournament along with compatriot Holly Clyburn and Amy Boulden of Wales. 

Hull was one of five amateurs to participate in the Kraft Nabisco Championship in California where she finished 38th with a score of one over par and she made her Ladies European Tour debut in Turkey in May, where she finished fifth with a score of one under par.

Whilst playing in her second Ladies European Tour event at the recent in the Irish Open, where she tied for 18th as the leading amateur, Hull said: “I think it’s really cool to be playing on home turf and it’s not that far from where I live. I play quite nearby at Woburn and I haven’t played at the Buckinghamshire before.”

Curtis Cup player Amy Boulden

Boulden, who also starred in the Curtis Cup, helping GB&I win the match for the first time since 1996, said:  “I am very excited to be playing in this event. It’s going to be a great experience and a chance to test my game against the top professionals. My plan is to head to Tour school in December so this event will be great to get some valuable experience to take with me. I am looking forward to getting out there and competing.”

Clyburn added: “I am thrilled to be playing in the ISPS Handa Ladies British Masters and thankful to the sponsors for the opportunity. It is going to be my first start on the LET, so I hope it all goes well and I am able to take some valuable experience with me to Tour school later this year.”

Local player Rachel Drummond from Buckinghamshire Golf Club has also received an invitation to form part of the field of 126 competitors and she commented: “It’s a privilege to play my second tour event on the Ladies European Tour and playing will be an amazing experience. Having been bought up in the same county it is extremely special that is it being played at Buckinghamshire Golf Club where I work. It’s great that I know the course and I hope this will be beneficial. I look forward to being able to welcome my family and friends which will be a huge support.”

Local Buckinghamshire player Rachel Drummond

Ladies European Tour rookie professional Lucy Williams, whose father, David, is a Tournament Director on the European Tour, has also received an invitation along with Scotland’s Lynn Kenny, Ireland’s Danielle McVeigh and English duo Kirsty Taylor and Tara Dayer-Smith, both from Hampshire.

There will also be a Chinese flavour with the addition of Yan Jing and Lin Xi Yu, who has already made several appearances in co-sanctioned events on the LET and recorded a career-best tie for fifth at last year’s Sanya Ladies Open in China.  

The ISPS Handa British Masters is being played for the first time at Buckinghamshire Golf Club, which has excellent rail links, with Denham train station located right next to the golf course. The journey from London Marylebone takes around 21-24 minutes, while by car, the venue is near Junction 1 of the M40.

Tickets for the ISPS Handa Ladies British Masters are on sale now and can be purchased via Ticketmaster: click here for tickets

This will be the only time that the women’s tour visits the south of England in 2012, so make that you don’t miss out on seeing the finest women golfers in action.

The full list of sponsor invitations is as follows:

Yan Jing

Lin Xi Yu

Rachel Drummond

Kirsty Taylor

Lucy Williams

Charley Hull

Tara Dayer-Smith

Lynn Kenny

Amy Boulden

Holly Clyburn

Danielle McVeigh