Gwladys Nocera

Amateur career

Nocera was born in Moulins, Allier. She had a successful amateur career. She finished runner up at the 1998 British Ladies Amateur Championship, was a member of the victorious European championship French team in 1999 and the youngest ever winning captain in the 2000 Espirito Santo Trophy World Amateur Golf Team Championships. She was a playing member of the 2002 French Espirito Santo Trophy World Amateur Golf Team Championships team.

She was runner up at the 2002 French Amateur Championship, 2002 French International Champion and 2002 German International champion. She holds a degree in international business from New Mexico State University.

Professional career

Nocera turned professional at the relatively late age of twenty-seven and finished ninth at the 2002 Ladies European Tour Qualifying School to win a place on the tour for the following season. After a modest start she improved dramatically in 2005, when she finished fourth on the Order of Merit and made her Solheim Cup debut where she beat Cristie Kerr in her singles match.

In 2006 her career took another upward turn. She started the year representing France at the Women's World Cup of Golf with Karine Icher. She scored her first three Ladies European Tour tournament victories at the Ladies Swiss Open, the BMW Ladies Italian Open and the Catalonia Ladies Masters. She also played in her first women's major tournament, the Kraft Nabisco Championship. She finished second on the New Star Money list being beaten only by Laura Davies the holder of the record number of money list wins and was voted Players’ Player of the Year by her fellow Ladies European Tour professionals.

On 20 January 2008, Jennifer Rosales and Dorothy Delasin of Team Philippines won the 4th Women's World Cup of Golf in Sun City, South Africa, with 4 birdies in the last 4 holes. The duo had a final round of 7-under-par 65 in the best ball, for a 54-hole aggregate of 18-under-par 198. Korea's Ji-Yai Shin and Eun Hee Ji were second on 200 after a final round 67, while Taiwan (Amy Hung and Yun Jye Wei) and Japan (Shinobu Moromizato and Miki Saiki) tied for third on 203. France's Gwladys Nocera and Virginie Lagoutte-Clement, were fifth on 205 following 67.

In 2009, Nocera earned her LPGA Tour card at LPGA Q-School and at the age of 34 will be a rookie and full-time LPGA Tour member in the 2010 season.

Amateur wins (2)

Ladies European Tour (14)

ALPG Tour (1)

Team appearances

Amateur

Professional