Marie-Laure de Lorenzi

Marie-Laure de Lorenzi (born 21 January 1961, in Biarritz) is a French professional golfer. She is known by her married name Marie-Laure Taya. She won 19 tournaments in a span of eleven seasons on the Ladies European Tour, putting her third, later tied third, on the all-time list of number of wins on the tour.

Early life and amateur career In 1961, De Lorenzi was born. She played for her country in the European Lady Junior's Team Championship, for players up to the age of 21, from she was 14 years old in 1975 until 1982 and was on the winning team in 1979. She won individually in 1981.

She also represented her country four times at the European Ladies' Team Championship and four times at the Espirito Santo Trophy.

Professional career In 1987, De Lorenzi joined the Ladies European Tour. She won the Order of Merit in 1988 and 1989. In those two years, when she led the rankings, she finished first or second 17 times, when the tour schedules included 46 individual tournaments over the two seasons. That means that she finished first or second in 37% of all scheduled tournaments over two full seasons on the tour.

She finished third, after tying the lead after the third round, at the 1989 Women's British Open Championship, before it was permanently co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour in 1994 and regarded as a major championship by the LPGA in 2001. The same year, de Lorenzi finished tied 11h at the 1989 U.S. Women's Open at Indianwood G&CC north of Detroit, Michigan, which came to be her best finish in a major championship.

She became a life time member of the Ladies European Tour, having accumulated 19 tournament victories on it.

As of 2024, she was tied third with Trish Johnson, after Laura Davies and Dale Reid, on the all-time list of number of wins on the Ladies European Tour.

During her career, de Lorenzi became, and as of 2024 still was, record holder of most wins in a single season, with seven wins in 1988.

De Lorenzi announced her retirement from tournament golf in 2004. In 2007, she was assistant captain of the European Solheim Cup team.

Personal life

She competed using her married name Marie-Laure Taya from 1986 until midway through 1989 when she changed to Marie-Laure de Lorenzi-Taya. After her divorce from former Spanish amateur champion Roman Taya, she reverted to her maiden name in 1990.

She has represented Paris International Golf Club, but lived in Barcelona, Spain with her daughter Laura and enjoyed tennis, jazz, antiques and swimming.

Professional wins (21)

Ladies European Tour wins (19)

Ladies European Tour playoff record (3–4)

Other wins (2) ^ Mixed pairs unofficial money event on the European Tour and Ladies European Tour.

Team appearances Amateur European Lady Junior's Team Championship (representing France): 1975, 1978, 1979 (winners), 1980, 1981, 1982 European Ladies' Team Championship (representing France): 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985 Vagliano Trophy (representing Continent of Europe): 1979, 1985 Espirito Santo Trophy (representing France): 1978, 1980, 1982, 1986

Professional Solheim Cup (representing Europe): 1990, 1996, 1998 Sunrise Cup World Team Championship (representing France): 1992 Praia D'el Rey European Cup (representing Ladies European Tour): 1999 (winners)