Paula Martí
Encyclopedia
Paula Martí Zambrano is a professional golfer
from Spain. She formerly was a member of the LPGA Tour and currently plays on the Ladies European Tour
.
, Catalonia
, Spain. As an amateur, she was National Spanish Champion in 1996 and a member of the European Junior Ryder Cup teams of 1995 and 1997. She moved to the United States
in 1998, and graduated from Saddlebrook Prep School and the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy. She was 1998 AJGA All-American.
Martí attended the University of Florida
in Gainesville, Florida
, United States
, where she played for the Florida Gators women's golf
team in 2000 and was recognized as a second-team All-Southeastern Conference
(SEC) selection. She turned professional in 2000, starting her professional career on the Ladies European Tour
in 2001.
and Ladies British Masters.
In 2002 Marti won the EDUCOM ALPG Players' Championship, came second at the British Women's Open and topped the money list on the Ladies European Tour
. She was a member of the 2002
European Solheim Cup
Team and was awarded the Spanish Royal Order of Merit for Sports in the bronze category.
At the end of 2002, she tied for 31st at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to earn non-exempt status for the 2003 LPGA season. During 2003-2005 her best LPGA Tour finish was a tie for sixth at the Franklin American Mortgage Championship. She teamed with Ana Belen Sánchez
to represent Spain at the inaugural Women's World Cup of Golf
in 2005 and teamed with Marta Prieto
in the 2006 Women's World Cup of Golf
. She did not play on the LPGA in 2006 due to the birth to her first child, son Izan Corretja.
Marti returned to the LET in 2007 and quickly reminded the golfing world of her pedigree. She finished tied 3rd at the MFS Women's Australian Open Championship - her first event of the season. She had an excellent season, posting seven top ten finishes in seventeen starts. Her form seemed good enough to merit a wildcard for the Solheim Cup but Marti missed the cut at the Evian Masters
and the Women's British Open in successive weeks to lose ground in the standings.
Despite not having won a tournament in seven years, Marti has played consistently well and came so close to winning the 2007 Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open, losing to Bettina Hauert
at the fourth extra hole of a play-off. In 2008 she posted ten top ten finishes, including three runner-up spots, ending the year ranked 8th on the tour's money list.
She welcomed her second son with partner Ivan Corretja, a baby boy named Jan, on November the 22nd 2010.
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
from Spain. She formerly was a member of the LPGA Tour and currently plays on the Ladies European Tour
Ladies European Tour
The Ladies European Tour is a professional golf tour for women which was founded in 1979. It is based in England. Like many UK-based sports organisations it is a company limited by guarantee, a legal structure which enables it to focus on maximising returns to its members through prize money,...
.
Amateur career
Martí was born in BarcelonaBarcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Spain. As an amateur, she was National Spanish Champion in 1996 and a member of the European Junior Ryder Cup teams of 1995 and 1997. She moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1998, and graduated from Saddlebrook Prep School and the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy. She was 1998 AJGA All-American.
Martí attended the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where she played for the Florida Gators women's golf
Florida Gators women's golf
The Florida Gators women's golf team represents the University of Florida in the sport of golf. The Lady Gators compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Southeastern Conference . They play their home matches on the Mark Bostick Golf Course on the university's...
team in 2000 and was recognized as a second-team All-Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC) selection. She turned professional in 2000, starting her professional career on the Ladies European Tour
Ladies European Tour
The Ladies European Tour is a professional golf tour for women which was founded in 1979. It is based in England. Like many UK-based sports organisations it is a company limited by guarantee, a legal structure which enables it to focus on maximising returns to its members through prize money,...
in 2001.
Professional career
She had two victories in her rookie season, winning the Ladies Italian OpenLadies Italian Open
The Ladies Italian Open is a professional golf tournament on the Ladies European Tour that is held in Italy. It has been played annually since 1987.-Winners:-External links:*...
and Ladies British Masters.
In 2002 Marti won the EDUCOM ALPG Players' Championship, came second at the British Women's Open and topped the money list on the Ladies European Tour
Ladies European Tour
The Ladies European Tour is a professional golf tour for women which was founded in 1979. It is based in England. Like many UK-based sports organisations it is a company limited by guarantee, a legal structure which enables it to focus on maximising returns to its members through prize money,...
. She was a member of the 2002
2002 Solheim Cup
The 7th Solheim Cup Match was held between September 20 and September 22, 2002 at Interlachen Country Club, Edina, Minnesota, USA. Team USA won the trophy for the fifth time by a score of 15½ to 12½ points...
European Solheim Cup
Solheim Cup
The Solheim Cup is a biennial golf tournament for professional women golfers contested by teams representing Europe and the United States. It is named after the Norwegian-American golf club manufacturer Karsten Solheim, who was a driving force behind its creation.The inaugural Cup was held in 1990,...
Team and was awarded the Spanish Royal Order of Merit for Sports in the bronze category.
At the end of 2002, she tied for 31st at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to earn non-exempt status for the 2003 LPGA season. During 2003-2005 her best LPGA Tour finish was a tie for sixth at the Franklin American Mortgage Championship. She teamed with Ana Belen Sánchez
Ana Sanchez
Ana Belén Sánchez is a Spanish golfer who plays on the Ladies European Tour. She represented Spain in the 1996 Espirito Santo Trophy and turned professional the following year. She has one Ladies European Tour win, which came at the 2004 BMW Ladies Italian Open, and was a member of the European...
to represent Spain at the inaugural Women's World Cup of Golf
Women's World Cup of Golf
The Women's World Cup of Golf was a professional golf tournament contested by teams of two female golfers representing their respective countries....
in 2005 and teamed with Marta Prieto
Marta Prieto
Marta Prieto is a Spanish professional golfer from Seville, Spain who plays on the Ladies European Tour.-Amateur career:...
in the 2006 Women's World Cup of Golf
Women's World Cup of Golf
The Women's World Cup of Golf was a professional golf tournament contested by teams of two female golfers representing their respective countries....
. She did not play on the LPGA in 2006 due to the birth to her first child, son Izan Corretja.
Marti returned to the LET in 2007 and quickly reminded the golfing world of her pedigree. She finished tied 3rd at the MFS Women's Australian Open Championship - her first event of the season. She had an excellent season, posting seven top ten finishes in seventeen starts. Her form seemed good enough to merit a wildcard for the Solheim Cup but Marti missed the cut at the Evian Masters
Evian Masters
The Evian Masters is a women's professional golf tournament played at the Evian Masters Golf Club in Évian-les-Bains, France each July.Founded in 1994 on the Ladies European Tour, it is one of two major championships on the LET. Not a major on the LPGA Tour, it became an LPGA co-sanctioned event in...
and the Women's British Open in successive weeks to lose ground in the standings.
Despite not having won a tournament in seven years, Marti has played consistently well and came so close to winning the 2007 Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open, losing to Bettina Hauert
Bettina Hauert
Bettina Alexandra Hauert is a German professional golfer and member of the Ladies European Tour.-Amateur career:Born in Hagen, Germany, Hauert was the individual champion at the 2003 Sherry Cup...
at the fourth extra hole of a play-off. In 2008 she posted ten top ten finishes, including three runner-up spots, ending the year ranked 8th on the tour's money list.
See also
- List of Florida Gators golfers
She welcomed her second son with partner Ivan Corretja, a baby boy named Jan, on November the 22nd 2010.