After the bitter disappointment of defeat in The Solheim Cup two weeks ago, six members of Dale Reid’s 2002 European team arrived in the south-west of France for the €165,000 Biarritz Ladies Classic at Le Phare GC.
With the seven automatic Solheim places likely to be hotly contested next season, valuable points are at stake in this, the final event of the 2002 Ladies European Tour season.
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| Hjorth – just has to be there! |
The 28-year-old from Falun is only 105 points behind Paula Marti in the standings and with the Spaniard absent this week due to commitments in America, Hjorth – who plays with Solheim team mate Suzann Pettersen and England’s Joanne Morley over the first two rounds – has the perfect opportunity to claim the European number one spot.
Fellow Swede Helen Alfredsson was delighted to be back beside the Bay of Biscay after a break of 12 years, when she finished second to Laura Davies in 1990.
“Oh, this place is fantastic,” said the seven-time Solheim Cup star, who on Thursday morning, tees up with Australia’s Shani Waugh and fellow Solheim cupper Sophie Gustafson – who should wrap up the Wedgwood 2002 lowest stroke average title this week.
“It’s so gorgeous and so romantic, I was going to have a couple of weeks in Sweden after Solheim, but this place is terrific, so I thought I’d come down for a quiet time, play a bit of golf and get some (Solheim) points for 2003 while I’m here!”
