Blanchard To Captain 2004 USA Women's World Amateur Team
February 18, 2004 Far Hills, N.J. - Cora Jane Blanchard of Edina, Minn., has been selected to serve as captain of the United States of America team at the 2004 Women's World Amateur Team Championship in Puerto Rico in October, the United States Golf Association has announced.

Blanchard, who was the chairman of the USGA Women's Committee in 2001-2002, will lead the three-player USA team, which will compete at Rio Mar Country Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico from Oct. 20-23. The championship is an international team event conducted by the International Golf Federation and is hosted this year by the Puerto Rico Golf Association.

"These days there are so many talented players coming along that I'm certain when our team is selected in August each player will be exceptional, and all will combine to be a very competitive team," Blanchard said. "I'm very honored to be named their captain."

Blanchard, a member of the Women's Committee from 1987-2002, was recently inducted into the Minnesota Golf Association Hall of Fame. She was a member of the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship Committee (1980-1987), and served as its chairman (1991-1998). Blanchard, a member of the USGA's Public Golf Committee from 1991-2000, is currently a member of the Regional Affairs Committee (since 2000) and has served as a USGA Rules official at the past 16 U.S. Women's Opens.

The Women's World Amateur Team Championship began in 1964. The IGF was founded in 1958 to encourage the international development of the game and to employ golf as a vehicle to foster friendship and sportsmanship. Recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the official international federation for golf, the IGF comprises the national governing bodies of golf of more than 100 countries.

As one of its main functions, the IGF conducts the World Amateur Team Championships for women and men on a biennial basis. Future championships are scheduled for 2006 in South Africa.

For more information, please contact the United States Golf Association at (908) 234-2300.