LALLA MERYEM CUP

Princess Lalla Meryem Cup

18-20 March 2010 - Royal Golf Mohammedia

The Princess Lalla Meryem Cup has been added to the Ladies European Tour (LET) schedule. The event, which was founded in 1993 under the patronage of Her Royal Highness the Princess Lalla Meryem, will be upgraded to a full field Ladies European Tour event featuring 126 players and with a prize fund of €275,000.

In order to give the Lalla Meryem Cup the opportunity to be more exposed, the tournament will be staged at Royal Golf Mohammedia in Morocco, from 18^th -20^th March 2010.

And to continue the tradition of the Hassan II Trophy, both events will be played the same week with the special feature of a combined prize giving ceremony presided by His Royal Highness the Prince Moulay Rachid for ladies and men.

This event represents a unique format throughout the world: two professional tournaments organised for same week, in the same place.

“We are extremely excited to be returning to Morocco, a beautiful country with tremendous golf facilities,” said Alexandra Armas, executive director of the Ladies European Tour. “I am positive that our players will love the fabulous golf course and the first class hospitality that Morocco has to offer. I am also certain that the members will put on a wonderful performance for all golf fans.”

The Princess Lalla Meryem Cup has traditionally been played on a smaller scale alongside the prestigious Hassan II Golf Trophy, created by His Majesty Late King Hassan II, at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, with a field of approximately 12 players.

Over the last 15 years it has attracted some of the leading names in women’s golf, such as Laura Davies and Sophie Gustafson.

The last time an official Ladies European Tour event was held in Morocco was in 2000, when Australian Alison Munt won the Marrakech Palmeraie Open at Palmeraie Golf Palace. England’s Trish Johnson was the 1999 event champion, while Sophie Gustafson won the tournament the previous year.

Past winners of the Princess Lalla Meryem Cup:

1993 Marie-Laure de Lorenzi (FRA)
1994 Gillian Stewart (ENG)
1995 Amaia Arruti (ESP)
1996 Lora Fairclough (ENG)
1997 Diane Barnard (ENG)
1998 Sophie Gustafson (SWE)
1999 Lora Fairclough (ENG)
2000 Elisabeth Esterl (GER)
2001 Marine Monnet (FRA)
2002 Johanna Head (ENG)
2003 Johanna Head (ENG)
2005 Ana Belen Sanchez (ESP)
2006 Sophie Sandolo (ITA)
2007 Gwladys Nocera (FRA)
2008 Laura Davies (ENG)