Gwladys Nocera is to captain the European Team at the 2023 PING Junior Solheim Cup, which will take place from 18-19 September at La Zagaleta in Spain.
The French star has had a coveted career in both the amateur and professional ranks, being part of the victorious European Ladies’ Team Championship in 1999 and captaining France to victory at the 2000 Espirito Santo Trophy. After turning professional at the age of 27, Nocera headed to the Ladies European Tour Q-School where she qualified in ninth place. A few years later she won her first LET title at the 2006 Swiss Ladies Open and after notching up another two victories that year, she was voted Players’ Player of the Year.
Nocera went on to win 14 titles on the LET, including five during the 2008 season, where she was also crowned the LET Order of Merit winner. Her last victory on Tour came at the 2015 Lalla Meryem Cup and the French legend still holds the record for the best 72-hole score in LET history with her winning score of -29 at the 2008 Goteborg Masters.
Nocera is also no stranger to the Solheim Cup, having represented Europe on four occasions previously at the 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2015 editions. Since wrapping up her professional career, the 14-time LET winner has been working at the French Golf Federation and coaching the French National Team, who have had recent success winning the European Girls’ Team Championship in 2022.
“It is a great honour to have been asked to be the next Captain of the PING Junior Solheim Cup and it is with great pride that I agreed to lead the European Team,” said Nocera. “I will put all my heart into this role in order to make this week unforgettable for the girls. I know from the bottom of my heart what this event brings to the players, the fans, the parents, the coaches and to all the people who love golf. Thank you to the Solheim family for making this event one of the best things that ever happened to junior golf. Let’s go girls. Vamos! Allez!”
Twelve of Europe’s best young female golfers between the age of 12 and 18 will battle against the US Team on the Old Course and look to defend their title which they won in Ohio in 2021. The European Team will be made up of the leading six players from the PING Junior Solheim Cup ranking who will be automatically selected, while there will also be six Captain’s picks based on performances at leading amateur events and the European Women’s Amateur Ranking.
John Solheim, Executive Chairman PING, said: “We are delighted that Gwladys will be captain for the European Team at the 2023 PING Junior Solheim Cup. She has a fantastic affinity with Team Europe having played in four Solheim Cups and has a true passion for the game of golf. She has worked with juniors for the past five years and know she will be excellent in this role and we wish her the best of luck as Europe look to defend their title.”
Alexandra Armas, CEO of the LET, said: “We are thrilled that Gwladys has agreed to accept the role of European captain for the 2023 PING Junior Solheim Cup. She has the passion and love for junior golf and recognises the importance of the tournament in developing the next generation of European players. Gwladys had a coveted career on the LET with 14 victories and knows what it takes to win, I’m sure she will lead the team with pride as Europe look to defend the title they won in the United States in 2021. We wish her the very best of luck.”