For Bolger, a Curtis Cup 'blast'

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland - Meghan Bolger of Haddonfield is the senior member of the U.S. Curtis Cup team that will attempt to win for the sixth straight time over Britain and Ireland beginning today on the Old Course.

Despite the age gap, Bolger, who celebrates her 30th birthday today, said she is having a good time with her teammates, who include five collegians and two high schoolers.

"They've adapted to me very well, and I appreciate that," Bolger said yesterday. "It's been an absolute blast with the girls. I had the good fortune for several years playing against them over the summertime and coaching against them, so I know them very well."

Bolger, who coached for seven years at Mississippi, is a seven-time winner of the Philadelphia Women's Championship and won back-to-back U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships in 2006 and 2007.

The quest for the Curtis Cup starts today with three foursome (alternate-shot) matches in the morning and three four-ball (better-ball) matches in the afternoon. The same format will be in place tomorrow, and Sunday's concluding round will feature eight singles matches.

Bolger will sit out the morning round but presumably will play in the afternoon.

The United States has a 25-6-3 lead in the series that has been contested by women amateurs since 1932. Its winning streak dates back to 1996.

This will be the first time the matches will be played at the Old Course at St. Andrews, which has featured typically windy weather in practice rounds.

"I think having a week of practice has been very, very good for us," Bolger said. "We have excellent caddies who know the golf course. We're getting acclimated with the shots that we've been trying to practice preparing for this tournament."

Bolger said 20 family members and friends have accompanied her.

The U.S. team is captained by Carol Semple Thompson of Sewickley, Pa., a seven-time U.S. Golf Association champion who competed in a record 12 Curtis Cups.