Sports
August 28, 2008 07:57 PM
A four-member Ontario junior girls golfing contingent snapped an eight-year losing streak Tuesday at the York Downs Golf and Country Club by capturing the 12th annual Ruth Eller Cup.
Natalie Gleadall of Stratford, Augusta James of Tamworth, Brittany Marchand of Shelburne and Taylor Schmidt of Kincardine along with non-playing captain Cathy Sherk of Belleville defeated a team of girls from Tennessee 5 matches to 3 after two days of play at the Unionville course.
The event saw Team Ontario take on some of the best junior golfers from Tennessee: Kendall Martindale of Jefferson City, Lauren Stratton of Spring Hill, Leigh Henderson of Knoxville and Kristin Price of Dandridge lead by non-playing captain Lissa Bradford of Franklin.
Founded in 1996 by World Golf Hall of Fame member and current Unionville resident Marlene Streit and Judy Eller Street of Tennessee, the Ruth Eller Cup matches bring together four outstanding junior girl golfers from the state of Tennessee and four top junior girls from Canada for two days of competitive match play.
The event is held in Tennessee and in Canada in alternate years.
The Ruth Eller Cup was named in honour of Judy Street’s mother, one of the pioneers of Tennessee junior golf.
The matches were conducted using a modified Curtis Cup/Commonwealth format, two four-ball matches Monday morning, two foursome matches Monday afternoon and four singles matches on Tuesday morning.
One point was awarded for a win or half a point to each team or player for a tie after completing the 18 hole matches.
Team Ontario is selected by the Marlene Streit Awards Fund (MSAF). Established in 1965 and currently administered by the GAO, the MSAF promotes Canadian junior girls golf by providing travel expenses for select junior competitions outside Canada.
Prior to 2006, the MSAF selected and funded four junior girls from across Canada to play in the Ruth Eller Cup Matches.
Starting in 2006, only junior girls from the province of Ontario are eligible to be selected for MSAF awards.