'Mixed feelings' for new Ladies' skip Evans

FORMER Welsh Girls’ captain Jill Evans has stepped up to lead the Wales Ladies’ golf team – hoping to build on the achievements of the late Sue Turner.

Before accepting her new role, Evans was a Wales Girls international, Under-23 European silver medallist then Welsh Girls Captain and a selector for the Wales Ladies team.

The appointment means continuity at a time when Welsh ladies are enjoying an unprecedented period of success for the likes of Amy Boulden, Becky Harries and Chloe Williams.

Wales won back-to-back Home Internationals for the first time under the captaincy of Turner, who sadly passed away after losing her battle with cancer. Close friend Evans will be looking to carry on the good work.

“I have mixed feelings,” admitted Evans. “Losing Sue was so sad, she was a good friend as well as an inspirational leader. It is a huge challenge taking over from our most successful ever ladies captain, but I am hugely honoured to be asked.

“We have a great bunch of girls, coach Jeremy Bennett is a huge asset, so it is the ideal team and I am just glad to be a part of it.

“I think the continuity is part of the thinking, I have worked closely with Sue, we have been friends for a long time so I know her ideas and can continue along the same lines.”

Wales had only ever won one Home Internationals title in more than 90 years until those successive victories under Turner, which has seen the emergence of a top group of Wales lady golfers.

This season Boulden won the Helen Holm Trophy at Royal Troon, one of the best victories of her career, and was also included in the Curtis Cup team to face the Americans in June, with Welsh Amateur champion Becky Harries named on the reserve list.

Boulden has also picked up the Leverett Trophy, with fellow North Wales teenager Williams making it a one-two with some excellent scoring – Boulden setting up victory with an opening 64 to finish two shots clear with Williams four shots ahead of the third-placed player.

Not to be left out, Harries won the Tenby Trophy with some similarly impressive scores, finishing four ahead of Boulden with Katie Bradbury in third. Harries followed that up with victory in a strong Wales Ladies Open Strokeplay Championship, with Williams second and Boulden fourth at Ashburnham.

“I worked with a lot of these players as Girls Captain, Amy, Becky, Kath O'Connor and the Bradbury sisters were coming through then,” explained Evans, who was part of the 1981 Wales Girls team who claimed the silver medal at the European Championships.

“It has certainly been one of the best ever starts to a season for the Welsh girls and of course we are looking forward to the Curtis Cup with Amy in the team and Becky on the reserve list.

“I think they spark each other to greater successes, they encourage each other a lot to do well but are also competitive. I think the key is that they work extremely hard too.

“We want to do especially well this year for Sue. We will not dwell on that fact, but every one of us will want to do it for her memory.

“It is a tough ask, but the results the girls have been getting this season show they are certainly capable.”