EMMA Duggleby is off to see the Queen before she and her Great Britain team-mates set out to rule across the Atlantic.

The Malton and Norton Golf ace, who has been at the forefront of women's domestic amateur golf for almost a decade, reaches another pinnacle when she will play in the Curtis Cup confrontation with arch-adversaries America.

The venue is the Fox Chapel course in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the date with history is August 3-4 when the eight-strong Great Britain and Ireland team are entertained by their American counterparts.

Duggleby, reigning Yorkshire champion and former holder of British, English and European women's crowns, is confident she will return to Blighty with the coveted Curtis Cup safely back in British possession for the first time in eight years.

Said the 30-year-old: "We've got a good mixture of experience and youth. While the Americans have home advantage their team is largely made up of rookies. I am quite optimistic that we will come back with the cup."

Duggleby, who first began her international career as an England team member in 1994, is one of just two survivors from the GB and Ireland team beaten in the last Curtis Cup collision at north Yorkshire's Ganton course two years ago.

She and her great Yorkshire rival Rebecca Hudson (Wheatley) starred for the hosts, who, lost by a slender 10-8 margin. That was the second successive win for the USA, with British and Irish success last sampled in 1996 when they annihilated their American foes 11-6 in Killarney.

The Duggleby-Hudson axis could provide the much-needed pivot of experience for next month's encounter at Fox Chapel. Both are in fine form, Duggleby beating Hudson in the Yorkshire ladies' final with Hudson ousting the Malton and Norton ace in the British Ladies Open which the Wheatley wonder won last week.

But before they jet out to the States for acclimatisation ahead of the two days of intense competition, the GB and Ireland team have been accorded a special reception at Buckingham Palace to meet Queen Elizabeth II. "That's going to be a great occasion, as well as a morale-booster for us before we go to America," enthused Duggleby.

WithJjubilee fever and national sporting pride currently coursing through the nation there could be no better time for Duggleby and Co. to ink their names into Curtis Cup history in Pennsylvania.

The GB and Ireland Curtis Cup team is: Emma Duggleby (Malton and Norton), Rebecca Hudson (Wheatley Hills), Fame More (Chesterfield), Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) - all England; Vikki Laing (Musselburgh), Heather Stirling (Bridge of Allan) - both Scotland; Alison Coffey (Warrenpoint) - Ireland; and Sarah Jones (Pennard) - Wales.

YORK Union, who have lost their opening two matches in the Yorkshire Inter-District Golf Union League, make seven changes for the match against Sheffield at Kirkbymoorside tomorrow.

York GC's Chris Brownlee (York), the amateur match-play champion, plus the Fulford GC duo of James Mason and Steve Mitchell all make their first appearance of the season.

Meanwhile, Steve Dunn (Fulford), Adrian Lount (Pike Hills), Iain Simpson (Fulford) and Neil Thompson (Scarthingwell) return after missing the last match.

However, team captain Jonathan Plaxton (Fulford) misses the match as he is playing in his club's Captain's Day.

The York Union of Golf Clubs' team: Jim Batt (Heworth); Martin Brown (Pike Hills); Chris Brownlee (York); James Duckett (Boothferry); Steve Dunn (Fulford); Adrian Lount (Pike Hills); Andrew Holmes (Kirkbymoorside); Matthew Lord, James Mason, Steve Mitchell, Iain Simpson (all Fulford); Neil Thompson (Scarthingwell). Reserves: Wayne Strutt (Boothferry); Matthew Dowdall (Pike Hills); Richard Suddes (Easingwold).

For the sixth successive year Flamborough Head GC is to host the Amken Classic, a charity competition in aid of Macmillan Cancer Relief.

The event - a betterball stableford - will be played on August 2 (10am start) with entry open to men's, ladies' and mixed pairs.

The first prize is a three day/two night golf break for two people, including bed, breakfast, dinner and three days golf donated by Hunley Hall GC. Other prizes include framed golf gloves, autographed by Bernhard Langer and Ian Woosnam, for the straightest drive and nearest the pin contests. The entry fee is £25 per pair, plus £1 each for the drive and pin awards. Details from Ian Rogers (0113) 2436970 or (07889) 227601, or e-mail ian@amken.co.uk

KILNWICK Percy's June medal was won by Mark Gatenby with a nett 66 ahead of three players on 68.

Their positions were settled on count-back with Mark Addinall second, Neil Atkinson third and Peter Williamson fourth. Rob Bradley won the lowest gross of 75.

The June midweek medal went to Lee Eastoe, who played to par to pip Steve Cooper, while the midweek stableford was taken by Chris Greenley on 34 points with David Kilford second. Carol Kilford topped the ladies' medal with a nett 71 ahead of Vivien Howson on 72 and Christine Hunter a further shot back.

THE first day of July will be a crucial one for Malton and Norton GC assistant professional James Drinkall.

That's when the 23-year-old takes his Professional Golfers' Association 'playing ability test'. If he passes then that will accord him a PGA diploma, the first step towards becoming a fully-fledged professional.

Drinkall, who graduated from Nottingham Trent University with a degree in sport and exercise science, will take the test at Bolton GC. While it is a course he has never before played he was hoping to do a 'recce' next week ahead of his July 1 day of testing destiny.

AFTER 27 years of playing at Pike Hills GC Mal Barley at last achieved every club-swinger's goal - a hole in one. Barley's ace was at the 207-yard ninth hole, where his driver dispatched his tee-shot into the cup.

He said his only regret was not being able to witness the ball disappear into the hole, but added it was when he could not see his ball on the green that he realised he had realised his life-time dream.

LIZ Jones and Ann Robinson (Fulford) reached the fifth round of the Daily Mail foursomes with a sudden-death win on the 20th hole over visiting Driffield duo Alison King and Elaine Collinson.

Meanwhile, Jim Clancey and his wife Pam won Fulford's Conner Cup mixed competition with 68, three ahead of Ron and Dorothy Hourston.

GERRY Byrne, formerly on York City's books, scored a hole in one at the 203-yard second hole. He was partnered by former City star Alan Woods in the Invitation Day event.

THE Captain's Day prize at Forest Park GC was won by Kevin Drinkeld. He had a nett 66 to just edge out Les Coop and Craig Train, who both returned nett 67.

FULFORD eased into the sixth round of the Mail On Sunday Classic women's event with a 2-1 win over Hainsworth Park in Brandesburton.

Updated: 11:19 Saturday, June 22, 2002