Serramia crowned Ryder Cup Wales Rookie of the Year

Elisa Serramia of Spain was crowned the 2005 Ryder Cup Wales Rookie of the Year today, in her home country, at the Catalonia Ladies Masters.

Despite the efforts of her nearest challengers Denise Simon from Germany and Scotland 's Lynn Kenny to the coveted title, the 21-year-old from Barcelona dominated the rookie race throughout the season and held her lead until the end.

“It's been a great year and I've met my own expectations,” said Serramia, who turned 21 two weeks ago.

“There were lots of good memories but my favourite was playing in my first event – the Samsung Ladies Masters in Singapore .

“I had my best finish there and it was so beautiful and hot like my own country.”

Serramia finished in tied seventh position that week and she now adds her name to a prestigious list of previous recipients of the rookie title, which reads like a ‘who's who' of women's professional golf and includes Laura Davies, Helen Alfredsson and Annika Sorenstam.

Davies won the title in 1985 and Alfredsson claimed it in 1989. World no.1 Sorenstam collected the award in 1993, while Karrie Webb also won it in 1995.

Serramia takes the award from The 2004 Ryder Cup Wales Rookie of the Year, Minea Blomqvist from Finland , another young player with a bright future, who burst onto the stage last season with a victory in her first year on Tour, at the OTP Bank Ladies Central European Open in Hungary .

Serramia, who had a consistent rookie season, aims to record her first professional victory on the LET next year and has a strong amateur career.

Individually, she was the 2003 British Amateur Champion, runner-up at the European Ladies Amateur Championships both in 2003 and 2004, International Junior Champion of both France and Spain in 2004 and a semi-finalist in the British Amateur Championship the same year.

In addition, she won the European Team Championships as a member of the Spanish team from 2002 through to 2004. She was also a member of the European Junior Solheim Cup Team in 2002, the same year that the now 19-year-old Paula Creamer played on the American team.

This years news archive | Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page