Former British stroke-play champion Maureen Madill has been appointed coach to the British Ladies' Golf Union (LGU) in succession to Mickey Walker.

The 40-year-old Ulsterwoman has agreed a four-year term to cover the Curtis Cup matches at Ganton in 2000 and in Pittsburgh in 2002.

Madill, a member of the 1980 Curtis Cup side, is to remain as national coach to the Welsh ladies and also keeps her professional attachment to Carden Park in Cheshire.

With the assistance of fitness and sports psychology expert Paul Darby, she will commence her duties when the LGU elite squad meets at Celtic Manor in Wales at the end of November. The squad includes seven Curtis Cup players in Lilian Behan, Fiona Brown, Rebecca Hudson, Hilary Monaghan, Becky Morgan, Alison Rose and Kim Rostron.

Squad: L Behan (Curragh), F Brown (Heswall), L Davis (Conwy), R Hudson (Wheatley), A Laing (Vale of Leven), V Laing (Musselburgh), L Moffat (West Kilbride), H Monaghan (Heriot Watt University), B Morgan (Monmouth), L Nicholson (Heriot Watt University), S O'Brien (Milltown), E Pilgrim (Celtic Manor), A Rose (Stirling), K Rostron (Clitheroe), L Walters (Chevin). Reserves: A Coffrey (Warrenpoint), B Brewerton (Abergele), E Dowdall (Wexford).

Six-time majors champion Nick Faldo has confirmed he will play in this year's Australian Golf Open at Royal Adelaide.

The Australian Golf Union said the 41-year-old Englishman would join US Tour players Fred Couples, Bill Mayfair and Bob Estes and leading Australians Greg Norman and Stuart Appleby in the tournament on December 3rd-6th.

Paul Russell, the winner two years ago, made a good start at rain-lashed Bundoran yesterday in the Irish PGA Assistants championship.

The Royal Belfast assistant fired rounds of 65 and 66 to be the half-way leader at seven-underpar, four shots clear of the field.

It was an almost flawless 36 holes for the Armaghman as he carded eight birdies and just one bogey.