Sophie Giquel-Bettan Explained

Sophie Giquel-Bettan
Birth Date:12 July 1982
Birth Place:Ploërmel, France
Height:166 cm
Residence:France
Yearpro:2003
Extour:Ladies European Tour (2004–2018)
LPGA Tour (2008–2009)
Prowins:3
Letwins:1
Anainspiration:DNP
Lpga:T34: 2008
Wusopen:DNP
Wbritopen:DNP
Evian:T38: 2014
Show-Medals:yes

Sophie Giquel-Bettan (born 12 July 1982) is a retired French professional golfer who played on the Ladies European Tour and the U.S-based LPGA Tour. She won the 2007 Ladies Open of Portugal.[1]

Personal life and amateur career

Born Sophie Giquel in 1982 in Ploërmel, Brittany, she won the individual gold at the 2001 Mediterranean Games in Tunis and represented the Continent of Europe at the 2003 Vagliano Trophy held at County Louth Golf Club, Ireland.[2]

In 2003, she lost the final of the French International Lady Juniors Amateur Championship to María Hernández, 2 and 1.

She married Axel Bettan, her caddie, in 2006 and changed her name to Giquel-Bettan.[3] Her closest friends on tour were Marine Monnet, Linda Wessberg, Diana Luna and Patricia Meunier-Lebouc, who helped her settle on the LPGA Tour.

Professional career

Giquel-Bettan finished runner-up behind Bettina Hauert of Germany at the 2003 Ladies European Tour Qualifying School and turned professional. In 2006, she was runner-up at the Ladies Italian Open, two strokes behind compatriot Gwladys Nocera, and finished a career-high 13th on the LET Order of Merit.[1]

In 2007, she won her maiden professional title at the Ladies Open of Portugal, two strokes ahead of Louise Stahle of Sweden.[4]

Giquel-Bettan played mainly on the LPGA Tour in 2008 and 2009, with best result a T11 finish at the 2008 Corona Championship, and a T34 finish at the Women's PGA Championship, her best finish in a major.[4]

Back on the LET, in 2011 she was tied for fourth at the Finnair Masters and runner-up at the Ladies Swiss Open, one stroke behind Diana Luna of Italy, ending the season 22nd on the Order of Merit. In 2014, she finished third at the Lalla Meryem Cup, T4 at the Sberbank Golf Masters and T38 at the Women's British Open, to rise to 168th in the Women's World Golf Rankings.[5]

She retired from tour in 2018, but stayed on the LET board, joining Canal Plus as a golf commentator.[6]

Professional wins (3)

LET Access Series wins (2)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin
of victory
Runner-up
123 Mar 2013Terre Blanche Ladies Open72-70-69=211 −84 strokes Patricia Sanz Barrio
218 Apr 2015Open Generali de Dinard70-66-71=207 −91 stroke Virginia Espejo

Results in LPGA majors

Tournament 2004 2005 2006 2007 200820092010 2011 2012 2013 2014
ANA Inspiration
U.S. Women's Open
Women's PGA ChampionshipT34CUT
Women's British OpenCUTCUTCUTT59CUTT38
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied

Team appearances

Amateur

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2012 LET Media Guide . Ladies European Tour . 4 October 2021.
  2. Web site: Sophie Giquel-Bettan . Le Figaro . 4 October 2021.
  3. Web site: Nocera and Giquel tied for the lead in Catalonia . Ladeis European Tour . 4 October 2021.
  4. Web site: Sophie Giquel-Bettan . Golfdata . 4 October 2021.
  5. Web site: Sophie Giquel-Bettan . Women's World Golf Rankings . 4 October 2021.
  6. Web site: New projects for Sophie Giquel-Bettan . Ladies European Tour . 4 October 2021.