Spain’s Tania Elósegui and Emma Cabrera Bello will carry the hopes of the home nation when they unite at the Comunitat Valenciana European Nations Cup this month.
Elósegui has achieved top ten finishes in the last two editions of the event playing alongside Paula Marti. Cabrera Bello will join her for the first time in the third edition of the 18-nation event at La Sella Golf Resort from 22-25 April, which is sponsored by VCI (Valencian Community Investments).
“I am thrilled to have this wonderful opportunity,” said 24-year-old Cabrera Bello, from Gran Canaria. “I am very pleased to be representing Spain in a team competition, since it will the first time that I have done so as a professional. I am also happy to be playing with Tania, with whom I have enjoyed a number of victories as an amateur. Hopefully we can keep the trophy in Spain, although the competition will be very strong.”
Cabrera Bello finished 25th on the LET’s Henderson Money List in 2009 after achieving a career best tie for second at the Open de Espana Femenino. Her performances in Spain have been impressive with a tie for third at the Madrid Ladies Masters and a share of ninth at the Tenerife Ladies Open..
Elósegui took her game to the next level in 2009 with her maiden LET victory at the ABN AMRO Ladies Open in the Netherlands. She gave an admirable performance at The Solheim Cup in the United States and ended the season ranked fifth in Europe.
The 28-year-old from San Sebastian, who finished sixth at the inaugural European Nations Cup in 2008 and sixth in 2009, said: “I am very much looking forward to the Comunitat Valenciana European Nations Cup. It’s a great tournament. It is fun because we are playing as a team. There are not a lot of players and that makes it more familiar being the atmosphere very, very friendly. It’s in Spain which for us makes it even more special. The weather is usually really nice and the venue is great.
“I have always enjoyed team competitions. It’s been like that since I was very young playing for my region, going through the national team playing European Championships and World Cups till now playing as a professional World Cups and European Nations Cups. It’s always been fun, also challenging but fun. To share everything that happens inside and outside the golf course. To try your hardest for the team and eventually to win a competition, as a team, it’s a great, great feeling.
“You’re not playing by yourself but with another person so the strategy changes, there is much more communication than playing individually and there is always situations when you laugh. I also like about it that is challenging because you have to try to understand the other player, what she needs or doesn’t need and create a good atmosphere and be able to communicate any time. And finally, I like about it that it is demanding because you really want to play good; it is not just you out there but also another person and the result depends on both so the pressure is bigger.”
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