Hassan II Golf Trophy kicks off in Rabat

The 33rd edition of the international Hassan II Golf Trophy started, here Thursday, with the participation of top players from Europe, Asia and North America, in addition to professional and amateur Moroccan golfers.

The Hassan II Golf Trophy Association, chaired by Prince Moulay Rachid (younger brother of King Mohammed VI), is organizing this competition from February 24 to 27.

Dar Essalam fairways, that are hosting the event, will feature triple champion of the trophy, Spain's Santiago Luna, who already won the editions of 1998, 2002 and 2003.

Beside Luna, other renowned names are on the list, including French Jean-François Remesy, winner of the France Open, Italy's Emanuele Canonica, four-time winner of the Reuters Performance Data Driving Distance and runner-up of the 2002 Spanish Canarias Open, and Canada's Derek Gillepsie, who ranked third in the 2003 Canadian Open.

Morocco will participate with five national golfers, notably Moroccan number one Younes El Hassani, winner of the 2005 Royal Moroccan Pro Tour and 2004 Professional Moroccan Championship.

The trophy will begin with the Pro-Am event, a team competition that includes one professional and three amateurs, which offers non-professionals an opportunity to play alongside the best world golfers.

Beside the Hassan II Trophy, professional women golfers will take part in HRH Princess Lalla Meryem Cup, an exclusive women sub-tournament featuring Morocco's Mounia Amalou Sayeh, Rebecca Hudson of England, Spain's Anna Belem Sanchez, French Virginie Auffret, and Italy's Monica Cosenza.

This 33rd edition gives birth to the Friendship Cup, an event gathering guest stars from the world of business and sports, most importantly former French Formula 1 champion Alain Prost, the 1998 football World Cup French captain Laurant Blanc and his team-mate Alain Bogossian.