Dubai: Dubai-based Chiara Noja shot a first round one under par 71 in the €40,000 Golf Vlaanderen LETAS Trophy at Millennium Golf in Belgium on the Ladies European Tour Access Series (LETAS). The 16 year-old German lies tied sixth place in this week’s 54-hole event.
Noja played with Momoka Kobori of New Zealand and Dutch Lauren Holmey, who lie second and third respectively in the 2022 LETAS Rookie of the Year Merit table, lead by Chiara. Kobori also shot a 71 and Holmey a 74. The leader is six under, three shots ahead of tied second.
Careful approach
Following last week’s withdrawal from the ARAMCO Team Series — London on the LET due to a rib injury, Chiara has not practised this week and was mindful of aggravating the injury and was just being careful.
Her round on Thursday over the 5,466-yard par-72, started slowly with a front nine of two over par 38. An eagle, par, birdie run on holes 10, 11 and 12 saw her jump up the leaderboard and she finished with six pars for a homeward nine of 33.
Primary target
Chiara has just entered the €40,000 Hauts De France-Pas De Calais Golf Open to be held from June 30-July 2 and has withdrawn from next week’s LET’s Amundi German Masters, to take place at the same time.
“My primary target this year is to gain my full LET status through the LET Access Series Order of Merit. I do not want to be distracted from my 2022 goal,” Chiara told Gulf News.
After playing four out of seven tournaments on LETAS so far, Chiara has almost a 300-point lead in the 2022 LETAS Order of Merit. In the 2022 Rookie standings the German has a lead of more than 300 points. Chiara has also committed to play in the two Trust Golf Links Series events on the LETAS in England and Scotland in the first two weeks of July.
