News, News 2023

7 Moroccan women in the European elite at the 26th Lalla Meryem Cup

Under the High Patronage of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI, the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation and the Hassan II Golf Trophy, presided over by His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid, are organizing the 26th edition of the Lalla Meryem Golf Cup, to be held on February 9-11, 2023 at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat.

The Lalla Meryem Golf Cup, created by the late King Hassan II in 1993, has always attracted the best women golfers in the world. Marie Laure de Lorenzi, Lady Laura Davies, Lora Fairclough, Annika Sörenstam, Sophie Gustafson, Trish Johnson, Gwladys Nocera, and Suzanne Petersen have all contributed to the international renown of this prestigious women’s golf event.

This edition will host 96 players from the Ladies European Tour, including the top 5 of the 2022 Ranking. The Swedish players Linn Grant and Maja Stark, respectively European n°1 and n°2, will be present. We will also have the return of Nuria Iturrioz who will have the title to defend from 2019.

This 26th edition of the Lalla Meryem Golf Cup is unique due to the participation of 7 Moroccan players, which is a record. At the professional level, we will find Ines Laklalech, author of an exceptional 2022 season with her victory at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France, a tournament of the LET, and her historical ascent to the LPGA in 2023; Maha Haddioui, double representative of Morocco at the Olympics and a member of the LET for 10 years and Lina Belmati, Champion of Morocco 2022.

Among the amateurs, the Moroccan public will discover Malak Bouraeda, the first Moroccan and Arab woman to compete in the US Women Open, Intissar Rich, African Champion in individual, as well as Sofia Cherif Essakali who, at 13 years old, will be the youngest player on the field – last but not least, Rim Imni, Champion of Morocco 2022 in the Elite category, will also compete alongside this prestigious roster.