NORTH Yorkshire ace Emma Duggleby has inched closer to the dream of a truly great golfing adventure.

She was notified this week of her call-up to the 20-strong Great Britain and Ireland winter training squad from which it is likely the final team will be chosen for next year's Curtis Cup contest in America.

It was just 18 months ago that Malton and Norton Golf Club's leading female player made her Curtis Cup debut in a narrow loss to the Americans when the coveted event was played in north Yorkshire at Ganton Golf Club.

Now her sights are squarely fixed on a second appearance in the most coveted team tournament in women's amateur golf in Pittsburgh next year.

"It was a tremendous thrill to have played for Great Britain and Ireland at Ganton, but it's a major goal of mine to hang on to my Curtis Cup place in America next year. It would be a dream come true if I could get to play in the competition over there," Duggleby told the Evening Press.

"For us it's the equivalent of the Solheim Cup and for amateur women players it's our version of the Ryder Cup.

"It's the pinnacle for women amateurs. I've played in America before, but only in Florida, so my heart is set on making it to Pittsburgh next year."

Duggleby will report for training with the rest of the squad in November before when she will continue her winter programme of practising at Malton and Norton, where she also works in the secretary's office and the professional shop several days a week.

She has been pleased with her 2001 performances, notably reaching the final of the British Championships for the second consecutive summer.

"I'm hoping I can stay on top of my game this winter," she said.

MALTON and Norton GC professional Steve Robinson has extended his successful sequence.

In tandem with club captain Gordon Benson he shared a third-place finish in the East Riding Alliance fixture at Scarborough North Club, where they posted a nine-under-par score.

That followed the duo's triumph in the York Union of Golf Clubs' Cross Trophy number two competition at The Oaks. There Robinson and Benson shot an 11-under-par total of 61, two ahead of the home pairing of Tony Raper and Terry Foy.

The Cross Trophy number one competition at Scarthingwell GC was won by Pike Hills' Darren Meek and Martin Brown with a nett 62 to pip Fulford's Mike Rudd and Dudley Williams by one shot.

IT was the coast with the most for The York Golf Club team which contested the East Yorkshire Ladies Winter Golf Association Pro-Am tournament.

The York ranks of assistant professional Mark Wood, together with Joy Hunter, Carolyn Kirk and Pam Dearing shone at the challenging east coast circuit of Filey GC.

Wood won the first prize in the professional competition with a score of 67, while The York finished second in the team event after posting a total of 132.

FORMER Southampton and England Under-21 striker Steve Moran sampled a marvellous match of the day at Allerthorpe Park GC.

The one-time goal-getter was served champagne on the first tee at 7.15 am in the club's September medal as he was getting married later that day. The bubbly must have acted as a spur as he won the event with a nett 58.

FULFORD GC's annual mixed foursomes was won by Ann Robinson and John P Taylor, who won an exciting final on the 20th hole against Melvyn and Gilly Allison.

Updated: 12:14 Saturday, September 29, 2001