Northern Ireland’s Olivia Mehaffey will make her Ladies European Tour debut this week when she lines up in the Lalla Meryem Cup at Golf de L’ Ocean in Agadir, Morocco, writes the Ladies European Tour.

“I’m extremely thankful to Sir Nick and the Ladies European Tour for giving me this amazing opportunity,” said Mehaffey, a member of Royal County Down Ladies.

“The Faldo Series is different to other amateur tournaments in that if you perform well at a Grand Final you can be invited to play in a professional Tour event, which is a huge prize,” added Mehaffey, who finished runner-up in the girls’ division at the 2013 Faldo Series Grand Final. “I’m looking forward to testing myself against some of Europe’s best players in Morocco.”

Sir Nick Faldo arranged the invitation for the 16-year-old through the Ladies European Tour, which lends its support to the six-time Major winner’s global golf development programme.

“We are delighted Olivia has taken up this invitation to play in the Lalla Meryem Cup, which will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year," said Di Barnard, Tour Director of the LET Access Series..

"The Ladies European Tour has enjoyed a close collaboration with the Faldo Series to help provide playing opportunities for developing young players. 

"It will be a tremendous experience for Olivia to compete alongside the best players in European golf and enjoy the atmosphere of a Ladies European Tour event.” 

Faldo said: “I’d like to thank the Ladies European Tour for their ongoing support, This is a unique opportunity for Olivia to compete against some of the world’s top professional golfers and I’m sure she will make the most of the experience”.

Supported by The R&A, ISPS Handa and The European Tour, the 2013 Faldo Series Europe schedule featured a record 20 tournaments in 15 countries including six in England plus others in Ireland, Abu Dhabi, Chile, the Czech Republic, Scotland, Austria, Wales, Brazil, Italy, The Netherlands, Germany, Slovakia, Greece and the USA.

Established in 1996, 40 Faldo Series tournaments now take place in 30 countries worldwide with more than 7,000 golfers participating each year.  Past winners include major champions Rory McIlroy and Yani Tseng.

In September 2014, Faldo will begin taking students at a full-time residential academy for education and golf development in America.  The first ever Faldo Series Academy in Casa Grande, Arizona marks another significant step in the programme’s history.

For more information on the Faldo Series visit www.nickfaldo.com.  You can also follow the Faldo Series on Facebook at www.facebook.com/faldoseries and on Twitter at .