Elaine Ratcliffe has been chosen to captain the Great Britain and Ireland Team for the 2022 Curtis Cup Match at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. The three-day competition is scheduled to be contested June 10-12.
Ratcliffe returns as captain after fulfilling the role at the 41st Curtis Cup at Conwy, where she guided GB&I to an opening day lead, which was overtaken by a strong USA lineup on the final day, 12½-7½ .
Hailing from Sandbach in Cheshire, England, Ratcliffe has a distinguished resumé having captained England in several international matches, including the Women’s Home Internationals and the European Amateur Team Championships, and has twice led the European team in the Patsy Hankins Trophy against Asia-Pacific.
As a player she won the Finnish Amateur Championship in 1997 and the English Amateur Championship the following year. Ratcliffe was a member of the GB&I Curtis Cup Team that defeated the USA, 11½- 6½, in the 1996 Match at Killarney in the Republic of Ireland. She also played for GB&I in the Vagliano Trophy against the Continent of Europe, which won the match, 14-10, at Halmstad in Sweden in 1997.
Pursuing a professional playing career, she was named Rookie of the Year by the Ladies’ European Tour in 1999 before being reinstated as an amateur in 2008.
Ratcliffe commented, “I am delighted to be returning to captain the Great Britain and Ireland team at the Curtis Cup next year.
“I was so privileged to lead the girls this year. They played impressive golf and showed just how much this match meant to them. I look forward to travelling with the 2022 team for an away match which I am sure will be played with great enthusiasm and friendship.”
Earlier this year, Sarah Ingram was again named captain of the USA Curtis Cup Team. The USA leads the overall series, 30-8-3.