Raquel Carriedo-Tomás

Raquel Carriedo-Tomás (born 8 February 1971) is a Spanish professional golfer, usually called just Raquel Carriedo.

In 2000, she became the first Spaniard to play for Europe in the Solheim Cup. Carriedo was also a member of the team in 2002, and she topped the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit in 2001.

Early life and amateur career
At six years of age, Carriedo started playing golf at Real Club de Golf La Peñaza in Zaragoza, Aragon, 300 kilometers north-east of the Spanish capital Madrid. Her professional instructor was Vicente Ballesteros, elder brother of major winner Seve Ballesteros. She practiced and competed a lot at young age and when she was 16, her instructor told her parents that she should try a professional career in golf, but she did not turn pro until she had finished her studies in tourism eight years later.

During her amateur career she never won a national amateur title nor represented her country at international team championships.

Professional career
With a solid 2000 season on the Ladies European Tour, despite not winning a tournament, Carriedo was selected, as the sixth of seven automatic qualifiers and the first ever Spanish participant to the European team against United States at the 2000 Solheim Cup at Loch Lomond Golf Club, Scotland. Carriedo contributed to a European 141⁄2 to 111⁄2 points win with a tie in the second day fourball match with Laura Davies against Meg Mallon and Beth Daniel.

Carriedo finished the 2000 Ladies European Tour season fifth on the Order of Merit.

After finishing second nine times, Carriedo captured her first professional win in March 2001 at the Taiwan Ladies Open.

At the Compaq Open in August 2001 at Österåker Golf Club outside Stockholm, Sweden, Carriedo was six strokes behind leader Karine Icher after 36 holes and three strokes behind after 54 holes. However, on the 11th hole during the final round, Icher was penalised one stroke due to slow play and continued to four-putt the hole. Carriedo finally won by a stroke and continued the 2001 season winning the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit.

At the 2002 U.S. Women's Open at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kansas, Carriedo reached her best finish in a major championship, finishing lone fourth behind Juli Inkster, Annika Sörenstam and Shani Waugh.

Carriedo made her second Solheim Cup appearance in September 2002, as the second automatic European qualifier, at Interlachen Country Club, Minnesota, U.S.A. In the second day fourball Carriedo came to be paired with her opponent from the Compaq Open the year before, Karine Icher. The pair won their game against Cristie Kerr and Rosie Jones, but Europe lost the match 151⁄2 to 121⁄2.

Carriedo mainly retired from competitive golf after the 2004 season and after having two children, she has been working as a golf instructor.

Awards and honors

 * Medal of the Royal Order of Merit of the Royal Spanish Federation
 * Gold Medal of Merit of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation

Ladies European Tour wins (4)
Ladies European Tour playoff record (0–2)

Other wins (1)

 * BGT 2011 - Villaitana WEST Final (Womens European Satellite Tour)

Team appearances
Professional
 * Solheim Cup (representing Europe): 2000 (winners), 2002