Marie-Laure de Lorenzi

(Wednesday 5th April, 2006)Helen Alfredsson, Captain of The 2007 European Solheim Cup Team, today announced that Marie-Laure de Lorenzi of France will serve as her Vice Captain for the tenth Solheim Cup Match at Halmstad Golfklubb in Sweden, from September 14-16th, 2007.

De Lorenzi, a fellow Honorary Life Member of the Ladies European Tour, had one of the most celebrated careers in women’s golf with 19 victories in 223 tournaments during her 17-year career as a professional.

The 45 year old from Biarritz said: “I am extremely honoured to be named Vice Captain of The European Solheim Cup Team. Helen and I have been friends for a long time and I respect her immensely. I am very excited to help Helen lead her team in Sweden in 2007.”

De Lorenzi accumulated three points in her three appearances for the European Team in 1990, 1996 and 1998, when she was partnered with Alfredsson of Sweden on four occasions.

Alfredsson, who made seven appearances in The Solheim Cup as a player, added: “As soon as I accepted my Captaincy I knew I wanted Marie-Laure to be my Vice Captain and I am so pleased that she agreed. Marie-Laure is a great friend, she has a huge amount of experience and she will bring a lot to the team. ”

De Lorenzi added: “I had a wonderful time playing in the competition and it will be fantastic to be working on the other side for the first time. I heard great things from Catrin (Nilsmark), Dale (Reid) and Alison (Nicholas) and I feel so lucky to have the chance to share this new experience.”

She joined the Tour in 1987 and won two events in her rookie year, going on to establish a Tour record of winning seven titles in 1988 and earning the first of two consecutive Order of Merit titles. De Lorenzi finished in the top ten of the Order of Merit ten times and won her national title on three occasions. The last of her 19 Tour victories came at the 1997 Swiss Open, although she also led the Ladies squad to victory against the Seniors Tour in the 1999 Praia D’el Rey European Cup. De Lorenzi was a figurehead for French women’s golf and continues to guide many of the younger French players. She has lived in Barcelona for the past 25 years where she now organises corporate golf days.

Karen Lunn, Chairman of The Ladies European Tour and The European Solheim Cup Committee, added: “I am thrilled to have Helen and Marie-Laure lead The European Solheim Cup Team in Sweden.

“Having two Honorary Life Members who have had such successful careers along with a great amount of Solheim Cup experience will make them inspirational leaders. With Sweden’s own Helen Alfredsson at the helm and the huge support that will be in attendance in her homeland, there is no doubt we’re in for a magnificent 2007 event. Let’s hope that Helen, Marie-Laure and the team can return the Cup to Europe.”

“The Solheim Family is very pleased with the choice of Marie-Laure as the Vice Captain of The 2007 European Solheim Cup team,” said John A. Solheim, Chairman and CEO of PING. “She has had a wonderful career on the Ladies European Tour as well as a long and successful career and history with The Solheim Cup. She is a great ambassador of the LET and will provide valuable assistance to Helen.”

About The Solheim Cup

Sponsored by PING golf equipment, The Solheim Cup is named in honour of the company's founder, Karsten Solheim, and his family. The Solheim Cup is the most prestigious team event in women's professional golf. It is a


biennial, trans-Atlantic team match-play competition featuring 12 of the top European born players from the Ladies European Tour (LET) and 12 top American born players from the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). Players on both sides of the Atlantic compete for points in their respective tour events to earn a coveted place on the team.
Played over three days, The Solheim Cup consists of 28 matches - eight foursome matches, eight four-ball matches and 12 singles played on the final day.
The U.S. Team leads the competition, 6-3, but the European Team has won three of four events staged in Europe and will be looking to regain the Cup in 2007 after a close competition in the U.S. in 2005.