EAVAN HIGGINS has announced her retirement from international golf, 16 years after making her debut in the Irish team at Portmarnock in 1981. In formally notifying the ILGU, she offered to help with future international teams, if required.

Through a highly successful career, the only significant honour that eluded Higgins was a Curtis Cup place, though she was first reserve on the victorious team at Royal St George's in 1988. She helped Ireland to victory in the European Team Championship of 1983 and the Home Internationals in 1986, and was nonplaying captain of the Irish Junior European teams of 1994 and 1995.

For a time, however, it looked as if her career would be blighted by failure to gain an expected triumph in the Irish Close Championship. She went agonisingly close, particularly when losing in the final to Therese O'Reilly at Castlerock in 1986 and to Laura Bolton at Tramore two years later.

But a deserved breakthrough came at Royal Belfast in 1993, when she eventually captured the title, beating Aideen Rogers by 2 and 1 in the final. She was also Munster champion in 1983, 1988 and 1989, and won several scratch cups, including those at Galway, Shannon, Lahinch and Cork.

"For the last few years, I hoped I would know when the time was right to bow out of serious golf," she said yesterday. "Now, with such a promising group of young players starting to perform, I know that the time has come.

"My plans are to play in the Irish Close at Enniscrone later this month and in selected Munster based events."