Dec. 11, 2004 – European Number One Laura Davies is backing a new scheme to attract patrons for the ELGA Trust, the charity for girls’ golf.

England’s golfing superstar features on the invitations to new patrons, which were launched at ELGA’s annual meeting on Tuesday. Davies comments: “The ELGA Trust supported me in my early golfing days. I am therefore very pleased to be an ambassador for the Trust so that others may also benefit.”

The Trust encourages girls to play golf, making grants for coaching and to help with the cost of equipment and tournament expenses. Last year, it awarded over £51,000. Supporters of girls’ golf are invited to become patrons by making a one-off donation of £100 or a standing order for an annual payment.

The patrons scheme was backed at the meeting by Bridget Jackson and Vivien Saunders, who both began playing golf as girls and went on to enjoy illustrious careers. Saunders, who won the Ladies British Open during her professional days and returned to amateur ranks last year, said: “We can never do enough for juniors.”

She went on: “If we encourage 1000 girl golfers to start the game each year possibly only two or three will play for England, possibly 50 will play for their county, but those juniors will become the backbone of our golfing communities.”

If you would like more information about the ELGA Trust Patrons scheme please contact the ELGA office.

· The winners of the ELGA Trust Rosebud prize draw were announced at the meeting. They are: Lorna Rulfe of Okehampton GC, Devon; Angie Bell of Bowood GC, Wiltshire, Jan Sheargold of Shifnal GC, Shropshire; and Glenda Latham of Weston-Super-Mare GC, Somerset. They each win a £250 voucher from golfbreaks.com

W: www.englishladiesgolf.org