Chiara Noja tied third after first round at LETAS event

Dubai: Dubai-based Chiara Noja (Germany), currently second in both the LETAS Order of Merit and the LETAS Rookie of the Year Rankings after six events this season, shot a first round of two-under par 71 to be tied third on Wednesday.

The 54-hole tournament this week on the Ladies European Tour Access Series (LETAS) is being played at Ramsdale Hall GC in North East England, being played at 6,215 yards, with a par-73.

This is the first of two events styled as the Trust Golf Links Series with next week’s second event at The Musselburgh Golf Club, Scotland, with both events playing for a €40,000 purse.

The 16-year-old Dubai girl started strongly with a two-birdie front nine of 35 followed by further birdies on holes 10 and 11 to stand four under par on the 12th tee with just seven holes to play.

Bogeys on 13 and 16 stalled her progress and she had to settle for a two-under par score with four-under par at the top of the leaderboard.

After her round, Chiara said: ‘‘Today was a real struggle at times, in fact, borderline weather warnings with crazy winds of upto 40 mph. Overall, I was very pleased with my play and had to be sharp with my short game as missed greens were inevitable with such a strong wind. With a few players still out on the golf course, I am satisfied with my placing and looking forward to tomorrow’s challenge that is before us all, wind or otherwise.''