Rain or shine, Chiara Noja looks at the brighter side of her game

Dubai-based Chiara Noja, representing Jumeirah Golf Estates, shot an opening round of one under par in the €40,000 ASGI Lavaux Ladies Open in Switzerland on the LETAS on Wednesday.

The German teenager lies in tied 13th in this event that will probably be her last event of the LETAS this season.

On completion of her round, 16-year-old Chiara, the runaway leader of both the LETAS Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year Rankings, told Gulf News: “Despite the weather, I’m pretty happy with my score today! I got unlucky with the draw so had to play in the storm and rain, whereas everyone else in the top 10 played in the sunshine four hours later. I’m on the dark side again tomorrow, which is really frustrating, but I just need to keep myself in contention.”

Flying back home

Noja is three shots behind the leaders after round one of this 54-hole event. Chiara had a two birdie, one bogey and 15 pars round.

Prior to the tournament, Noja said: “This is my last LETAS event of the season and I will fly back home to Dubai on the September 18. It will be great to get updated and re-engaged with my GCSE’s. It has been a while since I have been home with family and friends in Dubai, now that I have secured my 2023 Ladies European Tour Card, which was always my sole objective for this season.

"With the season-ending tournament in France being cancelled on the LETAS, this week is not that important. I am a bit disappointed with my tee times for the first two rounds tee times, compared with others in the Top 10 of the LETAS Order of Merit Rankings, but, I suppose, that is the luck of the draw sometimes.”

Noja’s second round is Thursday at 12.20pm off tee 10 in Match 29.