Debbie Richards, who helped England to win European senior gold, will captain the English senior women’s teams for 2017.
Debbie, from Surrey, will lead the sides for the European senior women’s team championship in Slovakia from September 5-9 and for the senior women’s Home Internationals at Newport, Wales, from 3-5 October.
England will be defending the Home Internationals, aiming for their fourth consecutive win and their 11th victory since the championship started in 2003.
Debbie was a member of England’s invincible senior women’s side of 2014, which won both the European team championship and Home Internationals.
She commented: “I am thrilled to have been invited to become the captain of the England senior team and very much look forward to trying to emulate the 2014 results.
“I loved being part of the England squad. I will never forget the experience of not only the golf but also the camaraderie in the team and the general atmosphere at the events in which I played.
“I would love another chance to play for England so will be trying my best in the matchplay and stroke play events this year. There are so many talented senior golfers which means the competition is very stiff with everyone's goal, ultimately, being to earn a place in the team.”
Debbie speedily played her way to the top of the game after making her senior debut in 2010 when she scored the first of two wins in the second flight of the English senior women’s amateur championship.
She rapidly moved into the top flight and has been a semi-finalist in the senior amateur championship and had a string of top ten finishes in the senior stroke play.
Debbie was a Welsh international as a girl, plays for her county, Surrey, in the second and senior teams and has won multiple championships at Burhill and Rye, where she is the current ladies’ champion. She was also a member at Royal Mid Surrey for over 20 years.
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