JOHNNY WATTERSONwas at Milltown yesterday as the remarkable Maguire twins notched up another first – becoming the youngest players ever to gain Curtis Cup selection

“WHITE TROUSERS. Purple tops. Big Ping bags. Both of them. You can’t miss them,” were the clubhouse instructions. And there they were on the 16th and 14th holes, a pod of curious onlookers trailing behind them. A balmy day at Milltown and the twins, Lisa and Leona Maguire, were silently taking the field apart.

Yesterday was another benchmark day, when their already stellar career graphs steepened. At 15 years-old the Cavan girls’ breathless rampage through the record books reeled in the Curtis Cup selectors. That means it’s off to Boston in June for the biennial event and no sweating it out in the exam hall for the Junior Cert.

Lisa and Leona didn’t appear to mind that exam casualty. Just a self-conscious, impish smile flashed across their sunburnt faces as there was a shy acknowledgement that yes, it was “a great honour” to be the youngest players ever to be picked for a Britain and Ireland team.

“It is the pinnacle of amateur golf to play in the Curtis Cup,” said Leona. “It’s an unbelievable opportunity for both of us.” They will be five months short of their 16th birthday when the tournament begins, beating Scotland’s Carly Booth who was picked one month shy of becoming sweet 16 in May 2008. It seemed cruelly divisive to ask Lisa which one of them was born last in order to claim bragging rights as the stand-alone youngest.

“I’d hate to be up against those two all the time,” quipped Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport Mary Hanafin to the collected teams that made up yesterday’s Irish School finals. She judged the mood well. Leona and Lisa have now won the cup three times in a row for Loreto Cavan – with team-mate Rebecca Brady they had 27 Stableford points to spare yesterday – but at a higher level have conditioned the golfing community to accept that each award, tournament win or team selection is inevitability in one direction.

Last summer as 14 year-olds, the two set an age record by appearing for Britain and Ireland in the Vagliano Trophy in Hamburg. Precociously ahead of the pack they carry their plus three handicaps lightly.

“The girls have dreamed about it,” said their mother Breda. “It’s wonderful for the two of them and for Danielle (McVeigh, at 22, the oldest on the team) as well. To play Curtis Cup at this stage is a wonderful experience and a wonderful privilege and to represent Ireland on the Britain and Ireland team is phenomenal. Even though they are young they do appreciate what it means.”

Michelle Wie was 14 years-old when she played for the United States at Formby in 2004 and this year there is again a younger player on the American team.

“We know some of the girls on the US team. Alexis Thompson is two months younger than us,” said Lisa. “But it’s amazing that we made it at such a young age. Hopefully we can bring the trophy home to Ireland. I think our team is very strong this year. I fancy our chances. There’s no point in going out there not thinking that you are going to win.”

Yesterday Leona played with Edel Coyne from Midleton, while Lisa was teamed with Edel’s twin sister, Julie, in a nightmare day for photographers. The Maguires now hope to play with each other at the Essex Country Club as they have often done in other competitions. Naturally, that would be another first – the only twins to have played in the Curtis Cup.

The question of the professional tour always arises. But there is no mad dash to the paid ranks just yet. Their mother is a teacher. The girls may have played the Junior Cert smartly but talent won’t get them off all school work.

“They will now be in America for the duration of the Junior Cert,” says Breda. “The school is accepting their mock results. The Junior Cert is not obligatory but the girls are very dedicated to their work at school. They’ve had very good support from the school in their golf and they’ve missed very little time.

“They dream of playing as a tour pro,” she continues. “But they will be going back to school next year. It’s Transition Year for them so it will give them an opportunity to play in some professional events. And they will play in those events as amateurs.” And at 15, they’ll do what their mother says.

CURTIS CUP YOUTH GETS ITS TURN

Hannah Barwood (Knowle GC, Eng) Age 19

Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa, Eng) Age 19

Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton, Eng) Age 21

Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell, Ire) Age 15

Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell, Ire) Age 15

Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle, Scot)Age 20

Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co. Down, Ire) Age 22

Sally Watson (Elie Earlsferry, Scot) Age 18

Reserves

Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar, Scot) Age 19

Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush, Ire) Age 18

Charlie Douglass (Brocket Hall, Eng) Age 21

Amy Boulden (Maesdu, Wal) Age 16

Team Captain: Mary McKenna (Donabate, Ire).