Dubai prodigy Chiara Noja feeling the love at Dubai Moonlight Classic
15-year-old delighted to get the support of the crowd at Emirates Golf Club
Another day of golf under the floodlights, another respectable round for Dubai prodigy Chiara Noja as she posted a level par 72 on the second night of the Dubai Moonlight Classic at Emirates Golf Club.
The 15-year-old more than held her own with some of the game’s greatest players despite turning professional just last week. In fact, Noja sits in a share of 35th alongside legendary Scot Catriona Matthew, a Major champion and back-to-back winning Solheim Cup Captain.
“Strategy is really important whether it’s an easy golf course or a hard golf course, long short, tight narrow,” said Noja reflecting on her round. “This course is beautiful but you do need to be strategic on certain holes choosing when to maybe go for it and when not.
“I didn’t make use of many of my opportunities today. I put myself into some great situations but I just didn’t convert those into birdies. Less bogeys than yesterday so I’m not disappointed, just a little frustrated. But level par, you can’t really be upset with that.”
Fewer bogeys were certainly a welcome sight for the youngster, along with the return of fans to the Faldo Course after the pandemic put a halt to them attending last year’s edition.
“I loved playing in front of the fans,” she said. “I really appreciate the people that were able to come out and support. Some people that I knew were out there today and you learn to appreciate it in a whole other way”
With one more round to go at the only night tournament in world golf, Noja is sticking to her game plan in the hope that more birdies will follow.
“Same strategy, same game plan but hoping to hole a couple more putts,” she added. “But the mentality has been good over the past few days so looking forward to carrying that energy on to tomorrow”