SENIOR LADIES INTERNATIONAL OPEN 20 th edition BIARRITZ LE PHARE GOLF CLUB Biarritz, France FROM APRIL, 26 TH TO 28 TH,2018
TROPHY TROPHÉE SUMMARY Simone Thion de la Chaume Trophy A tribute to the Great Ladies of Golf Important dates More than a tournament Biarritz Golf Club Agenda and Past winners Players testimonies Contact
TROPHY THE MUST OF SENIOR LADIES TOURNAMENT More than 130 international players will meet on the Basque Coast to participate in the 20 th edition of the Simone Thion de la Chaume Trophy Created in 1999, by Catherine Lacoste as a tribute to her mother Simone Thion de la Chaume, the Simone Thion de la Chaume Trophy has been the first International Senior Ladies Open in the world and has remained the only one in Europe until 2010. It is always with impatience and great enthusiasm that amateur and professional senior players wait for the Simone Thion de la Chaume Trophy s week. It has become in few years the must of Women Golf, and players come from all over the world to participate in this event. Selective stage for the national team members, the best european amateur players and Professionals from the LPGA and LET also meet for this tournament. The participants will compete for 3 rounds of stroke play, at the Simone Trophy Thion de la Chaume for the best handicap, while the other participants will play in the STC Cup, little sister of the Trophy.
TROPHY A TRIBUTE TO GREAT LADIES OF GOLF Wife of the legendary Tennis Champion, René Lacoste, Simone Thion de la Chaume is one of the pioneers of ladies golf. She won the British girls in 1924, the British Ladies in 1927 and was 13 consecutive years French Champion (1925 à 1937), not to mention her 6 wins at the French International Open. Her father René Thion de la Chaume is at the origin of the Chantaco course, which opens its doors in 1928. She will become with her daughter, Catherine Lacoste, the only mother and daughter to have won the British Ladies. CATHERINE LACOSTE Catherine Lacoste will accumulate a record never equaled by a French player, winning three of the biggest tournaments: the US Open in 1967, the US Amateur and the British Ladies in 1969. She remains the only amateur to have won the US Open, having been at the time also the youngest, and the first foreigner. Her track record does not stop there: victory at the World Team Championship in 1964, 2 times French Champion in 1969 and 1975, 4 wins at the French International Open in match play, 3 wins at the Spanish Open...
TROPHY THE TROPHY IN A FEW DATES: In 20 editions, the number of players has multiplied by 3, the handicap limit has passed from 18 to 6 and STC Cup, 2 nd division of the Trophy, is created. 1999: About fourty players, with a handicap lower than 18, come to participate in the 1st edition of the Trophy and pay tribute to Simone Thion de la Chaume. 2006: The Trophy becomes more professional. Sponsors are present, participate financially, to welcome more professionals and offer the players a high level tournament.. 2009: One hundred participants, a number of professionals doubled, more than 12 nationalities, a very competitive level (9.4 handicap limit) and an exceptional atmosphere, the Trophy becomes a major event for senior women's golf. 2014: In front of a constantly decreasing handicap limit and an increasing number of requests, the little sister of the Trophy, the STC Cup is born. More than 130 passionate golf players participate in this event. The week of the Simone Thion Trophy La Chaume is THE big party of Senior Women's Golf. 2018: After 19 editions on the Chantaco Golf Club, the Trophy and the STC Cup will celebrate its 20th edition on one of the oldest golf course in France: Biarritz le Phare Golf Club.
TROPHY MORE THAN A TOURNAMENT The Simone Thion de la Chaume Trophy Week doesn t stop after the daily 18 holes Club demos, massages, cocktails, Gala dinner at the rythme of a basque chorus, prize giving ceremony, draws, folklore, basque craft, local delicacies, are also the higlights of this event. A golden opportunity for the partners to create privileged links with the players, their companions, the other partners, while sharing with their guests unforgettable moments, rich in conviviality and in emotion.
TROPHY BIARRITZ LE PHARE GOLF CLUB Located in the heart of Biarritz city, this course, which will celebrate its 130 th anniversary in 2018, is the witness of Golf history in France and in Basque Country Founded in 1887 by British residents in Biarritz, this course located next to the Biarritz Lighthouse was inaugurated on March 13th, 1888 in the presence of PrincessFrederika of Hanover. The following year, Tom and Willie DUNN, renowned English architects, redesigned the links. In the 1920s, the architect H.S. COLT, creator a few years later of the Chantaco Golf course, will make several modifications mainly on the length of the holes. This par 69 with a length of 5402 meters covers 34 hectares. Ranked 3rd best-maintained golf in France and number 4 in France for the quality of its greens, this course is technical, with fast greens, defended by 70 bunkers skillfully arranged. Many professional players hit their first balls on the fairways of the Biarritz Golf Club: Arnaud Massy, Jean Gassiat, Eugène Laffitte, Pierre Hirigoyen and Henri Mourgiart and won the biggest international tournaments of their time. Records further enriched with the victories of Marie-Laure de Lorenzi, a pupil of Pierre Hirigoyen, who both as amateur and professional player has worn the colors of the Biarritz Golf Club.
2018 AGENDA April, 23 th, 2018: STC Cup Practice round (60 players) April, 24 th to 25 th, 2018: 1 st and 2 nd second round of STC Cup (Cut) STC Trophy Practice round in the afternoon PAST WINNERS 1999: Vicky Pertierra, Spain TROPHY 2000: Cécilia Mourgue d Algue, France 2001: Cécilia Mourgue d Algue, France 2002: Rica Comstock (PRO), USA 2003: Corinne Reybroeck (PRO), Belgium 2004: Heden Majj-Britt, Sweden 2005: Beatriz Ramirez de Haro, Spain April, 26 th, 2018: 3 rd round of STC Cup 1 st round of STC Trophy Gala dinner and STC Cup prize giving ceremony April, 27 th, 2018: 2 nd round of STC Trophy (Cut) April, 28 th, 2018 : 3 rd round STC Trophy Prize giving ceremony 2006: Cécilia Mourgue d Algue, France 2007: Debbie Jamgochian, USA 2008: Rica Comstock (PRO), USA 2009: Virginie Burrus, France 2010: Virginie Burrus, France 2011: Virginie Burrus, France 2012: Susan Moon (PRO), USA 2013 : Marjan de Boer (PRO), Holland 2014: Minna Kaarnalahti, Finland 2015: Minna Kaarnalahti, Finland 2016: Anne Marie Palli (PRO), France 2017: Mette Hageman (PRO), Holland (photo)
TROPHY PLAYER TESTIMONIES I wanted to share with you the pleasure that I have experienced this year, like the previous ones, to participate in this competition. In spite of all the problems, climatic... and others, that you had to meet, you manage to recreate, each year, a Sporting and Convivial event which has no equal in France. Hardly finished, we are already thinking of returning (if the level of play, which is a victim of its great success, allows it). A big congratulations again Martine...You made me feel so welcome and it seemed that I was enveloped in a huge family affair and made to feel actually part of that family. I loved the course more each time I played it, as is so often the case, and gave a huge sigh of relief once I had completed all of the short holes! Yours gifts were wonderful and will remind me of a very happy time - love the colour of the shirt! Thank you also for the reception at the hotel (the meal was absolutely delicious) and for the gala dinner, wow those greenskeepers certainly know how to sing and enjoy themselves! The tour round the linen factory was so interesting - I could have bought the whole shop - just love my little bag that we all got, it is full of tees and markers and will go with me everywhere in my golf bag bringing back happy memories. I really look forward to next year and hope that I qualify, so it will keep me on my toes to concentrate on getting a lower handicap. Mary
TROPHY CONTACT www.katira-communications.com E-mail: contact@katira-communication.com Tournament President Catherine Lacoste Contact Tournament coordinator Vaea de Soultrait E-mail: vaea@katira-communications.com +33 (0)6 86 81 49 89 Tournament director Veronique Smondack E-mail: veronique@katiracommunications.com