Trish Johnson named captain of Ladies' European Tour team for match in Japan

LET NEWS RELEASE

FROM BETHAN CUTLER, LET Media Manager

Trish Johnson has been named as the playing captain of the Ladies European Tour’s team for The Queens presented by Kowa, the second edition of the exciting team match play competition, which will be played at Miyoshi Country Club in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on December 2-4, 2016.

The 50-year-old Englishwoman will lead a team of nine players in the event, which will once again be contested between four of the world’s leading women’s golf tours: the LPGA of Japan (JLPGA), Korean LPGA (KLPGA), the Ladies European Tour (LET) and Australian Ladies’ Professional Golf (ALPG).

Johnson is relishing the opportunity to bring the trophy home and takes the reins from last year’s captain, fellow LET Life Member Dame Laura Davies.

“I’m extremely proud and honoured to be appointed as the captain for the Ladies European Tour Team in The Queens presented by Kowa and I look forward to the challenge. I have heard fantastic things about the inaugural edition of the innovative event and I can’t wait to get to Nagoya,” Johnson said.

No stranger to match play, Johnson made eight appearances for Europe in The Solheim Cup from 1990-2007 and played on two winning teams, at Dalmahoy in 1992 and Loch Lomond in 2000. Amongst the first of her 19 Ladies European Tour victories was the Woolmark Matchplay Championship, which she won as a rookie professional in 1987 and she also has three wins on the LPGA.

The 1990 LET Order of Merit winner, Johnson recently earned her first Legends Tour victory at The Legends Championship presented by Old National Bank in late August, edging Hall of Famer Juli Inkster in a marathon six-hole play-off, which was the longest in the history of the tour.

LET CEO Ivan Khodabakhsh said: “The Ladies European Tour is delighted that Life Member Trish Johnson has accepted the role of captain for The Queens presented by Kowa, as she has contributed enormously to the LET and will bring vast experience and a great deal of passion to the role.

“Following on from a successful Olympic Golf competition in Rio, the LET is looking forward to showcasing world class golf from a diverse mix of global stars in this unique event, with an innovative concept which is sure to attract new fans.”

The three-day event features 32 matches, with eight foursomes matches on day one, eight four ball matches on day two and 16 singles matches on day three.

For the first two days, all four teams will play each other. After the first two days, the top two teams will play each other in eight singles matches for first and second position while the third and fourth placed teams will play each other to determine third position overall in the event.

Team selection is based on the world rankings and LET order of merit following the Lacoste Ladies Open de France.