EMMA Duggleby will be hoping to make it third time lucky when she plays for Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup against the USA this weekend.

The Malton and Norton star has been on the losing side twice in her previous appearances in the biennial event between the top lady amateurs either side of the pond.

But, although the American side includes the teenage sensation Michelle Wie, the home side go into the match at the Southport-based Formby Golf Club confident of getting their hands on the cup for the first time since 1996.

Duggleby was part of the GB and Ireland teams which won both the Vagliano Trophy and the Weetabix Challenge against elite European sides in the build-up to the cup.

The latter victory, back in April, was against some of the top professionals in Europe and, significantly, was at Formby.

Duggleby believes the home side's liking for the seaside course and their familiarity with links golf compared with their American counterparts could prove crucial.

"Playing on a links course is an advantage for us. I think a couple of the Americans haven't played links golf before."

The 32-year-old looks set to play an important role in the match, which features three foursomes and six singles games on both Saturday and Sunday.

She is the most experienced player on either side with a Curtis Cup record of four wins, three defeats and a half, having appeared at nearby Ganton, in 2000, and in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, two years later. Team-mate Fame More is the only other player in the match who has made a previous Curtis Cup appearance (in 2002).

The Ryedale ace is also in a rich vein of form this season. Having finished last season top of the English order of merit, Duggleby has won the Helen Holm Scottish Open with a record-breaking score at Troon.

She has also finished runner-up in the Florida-based South Atlantic Ladies tournament and the Yorkshire ladies event, and reached the semi-final of the English amateur championship.

Duggleby may well come up against 14-year-old Michelle Wie, who has taken the golfing world by storm.

Earlier this year, she entered the Sony Open on the men's US PGA Tour in her home town of Honalulu and only missed the cut by one shot.

She is the youngest winner of an adult USGA championship and will be the youngest ever US Curtis Cup player.

Duggleby said: "It would be great to play her and take her on. But I'm sure all the Americans will be good players."

"We're really up for it and keen to get going," added Duggleby prior to the GB and Ireland's first practice round at Formby yesterday.

"The course is lovely and in good shape. We've had a bit of rain, which will dampen the course a bit, which is good as it could get very dry if there's more hot weather."

Crowds of up to 6,000 each day are expected. Televised highlights will be shown by the BBC on Sunday, June 20. For tickets, call (0870) 3666541.

The Great Britain and Ireland squad is: Claire Coughlan, aged 24, Cork; Emma Duggleby, 32, Malton and Norton; Anna Highgate, 21, Southerndown; Anne Laing, 29, Vale of Leven; Danielle Masters, 21, Bearsted Tudor Park; Shelley McKevitt, 24, Reading; Fame More, 22, Chesterfield; Nicola Timmins, 23, Sene Valley.

Updated: 15:06 Wednesday, June 09, 2004