ZORZI EYES FRENCH TRIPLE

Gwladys Nocera

France’s Gwladys Nocera, who finished fourth in the event last season, was another strong contender for her home title. The current no.4 on the New Star Money List won the KLM Ladies Open in Holland a fortnight ago and was sixth in last week’s Catalonia Ladies Masters in Spain.

Nocera enters the week behind Germany’s Bettina Hauert, England’s Trish Johnson and Australia’s Nikki Garrett on the New Star Money List, which is Europe’s official ranking.

Johnson aims to follow up her 18th career victory at last month’s BMW Ladies Italian Open with a third French Open title, after victories in 1996 and 1999. The Englishwoman is among the top 30 players on the Ladies European Tour, who are all in action.

Also competing at Le Golf D’Arras are Spain’s Paula Marti, Australia’s Sarah Kemp, Wales’ Becky Brewerton, Australia’s Anna Rawson, England’s Rebecca Hudson and France’s Sophie Giquel.

Hudson, currently ninth on the New Star Money List, is also sixth on The 2007 European Solheim Cup standings, just outside the cut-off point for automatic selection for the team that faces the Americans in September.