Germany will field two new players at the third edition of the Comunitat Valenciana European Nations Cup at La Sella Resort in Dénia, Alicante, from 22-25 April.
Introduced to the tournament for the first time are Bettina Hauert and Sandra Gal, who take over from Martina Eberl and Denise-Charlotte Becker in 2009.
Hauert, now in her seventh season on the Ladies European Tour, brings the experience to the team. The 27-year-old from Hagen was a two-time winner on the LET in 2007, when she represented Europe at The Solheim Cup and finished second on the Money List.
After a lean year in 2008, she finished 19th in Europe in 2009 and has started the 2010 season strongly with a tie for sixth recently in Morocco.
The 24-year-old Gal, who hails from near Cologne and competes full time on the US LPGA Tour, will be flying in from the Mojo6 tournament in Jamaica, where she is an alternate this week. She is in the third year of her professional career, having played her rookie season in 2008.
Gal represented Germany at the European Team Championships from 2003-07 and the World Amateur Team Championship in 2004 and 2006. As a junior, she won the 2003 German Girls Championship and was the Golfer of the Year in Germany the same year.
As a professional, her best finish was a tie for fifth at the 2009 LPGA Corning Classic and she recently tied for 34th at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
“I turned professional over two years ago and have since not played in a team event, which I used to so often as an amateur and which I always enjoyed a lot,” she said.
“I love to play in team events and it is a big honour being able to represent my country. It was an easy decision to play. Team golf is a wonderful change to the usually very individual sport we pursue. You can always learn from your team mates and push each other. Bettina is a very good player and we will be a good team.
“I know Bettina through amateur golf, where we competed against each other in matches. We were never on the same team before, but I see her at the British Open every year as well as on the couple European Tour events that I played earlier this year.
“She is an incredible player. She knows how to win in the professional circuit, which I have yet to do! I think her experience will help us out a lot. I think we have good chances of success.
“I was always a pretty good team player, especially at the University of Florida, where our team was ranked 5th in the country.
“I have lived in the USA since I started attending the University of Florida in 2004. The American way of life is very different to the European one. Everything lifestyle has its pros and cons. I miss the history and culture of Europe, but I love the facilities that you find in the US for golf.”
