Marie Laure de Lorenzi has shrugged off a disappointing season and awarded herself one of the two captain's wild card selections for the third European Cup match between the women's and senior men's European Tours at Praia D'El Rey in Portugal from November 19-21.
Marie Laure de Lorenzi has shrugged off a disappointing season and awarded herself one of the two captain's wild card selections for the third European Cup match between the women's and senior men's European Tours at Praia D'El Rey in Portugal from November 19-21.
The top available eight on the final Order of Merit - including British quartet Laura Davies, Alison Nicholas, Trish Johnson and Lora Fairclough - were automatic selections and Maria Hjorth, a winner in the US this year and the next player in the rankings, was given the other wild card.
De Lorenzi's form has been affected by a shoulder injury, and she admitted that she had considered being a non-playing captain. The French 38-year-old finished 62nd on the Order of Merit.
"But I have played much better in recent weeks and the rest of the team thought it would be better if I played," said the two-time Solheim Cup player. "I have the experience and I feel I coming back to form."
England's Helen Dobson would have been the next choice, and de Lorenzi added: "I do feel very sorry for Helen because she was keen to play."
The women's side are aiming to beat the men for a first time. They lost the inaugural contest and the men retained the trophy when last year's match finished 10-all.
Team: Laura Davies (England), Alison Nicholas (England), Trish Johnson (England), Sofia Gronberg Whitmore (Sweden), Raquel Carriedo (Spain), Lora Fairclough (England), Sandrine Mendiburu (France), Sophie Gustafson (Sweden), Maria Hjorth (Sweden), Marie-Laure de Lorenzi (France).
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