For the first time in its history, The Evian Championship organized qualifications offering the chance for two players to enter the prestigious plateau of the 5th and last Major of the season, from September 11 to 14, 2014, alongside the biggest champions golf courses.

20140514_Evian_01After two laps in stroke play, Ariane Provot (France) and Jing Yan (China, amateur) won the precious sesame, as did Caroline Afonso, who received the first wild card.

A brand new prologue to The Evian Championship, the Qualifying event took place on June 10 and 11 on the course of the Evian Resort Golf Club. Twenty-seven players, including three of the best international amateurs (two French and one Chinese), representing 13 nationalities, competed in two rounds of stroke play.

Under the sun, the Frenchwoman Caroline Afonso took the advantage at the end of the 1st round, thanks to a card of 67 (-4), counting 5 birdies and a bogey. But after a stormy night, once the course was completely cleared of debris by the green-keepers, it was another Frenchwoman, Ariane Provot, also based in Biarritz, who stormed the top of the leaderboard with three birdies on the first 3 holes.

Completing her card with another birdie at 6, and despite 2 bogeys at 14 and 18, the LET Rookie, 21, wins the Qualifying for The Evian Championship, with a total of 137 (-5). Behind, the leader of the day before, Caroline Afonso, must share his 2nd place because of a bogey at 18 and start again in play off against the Chinese amateur Jing Yan. A par from the Chinese at 18 against a bogey from the French offered the 2nd passport for The Evian Championship to Jing Yan.

Delighted, Ariane Provot, caddeyée by her father, declared: “To be able to play The Evian Championship in a 'rookie' year, it's crazy! I came here thinking of what I had been told: 'Go ahead, treat yourself. No one is waiting for you, it's you who will create the event! ". A good surprise also awaited Caroline Afonso who was given a wild card by the tournament board, to salute her 2nd place tied.

Ariane Provot, Caroline Afonso and amateur Jing Yan leave with their qualification in hand for The Evian Championship which is contested from September 11 to 14, 2014.

Ariane Provot (FRA) - 21 years old
Passed pro in December 2013
5 titles of champions of France
Rookie on LET 2014 with 3 tournaments played this year and the best performance at the Deloitte Ladies Open (20th)

Jing Yan (CHN - Am) - 17 years old
Ranked 23rd in the World Amateur Golf Ranking
True star in China where, at the age of 14, she distinguished herself during the Asian games (in 2010) In 2013, won two amateur big titles: the Girl's British Open and the Ladies' British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship . 3 Top 25 on LET in 2014 (11th New Zealand Women's Open)

Caroline Afonso (FRA) - 29 years old
Passed pro in December 2007
N ° 1 amateur in 2007
Play 17 tournaments on LET 2013, best performance: 6th at Helsongbord Open
Best performance on LET: 2nd at the Uniqa Ladies Golf Open in Austria