I stayed calm and collected on 18th hole, Chiara Noja says after maiden victory

Dubai: Dubai-based professional Chiara Noja relieving her dream moment as she reflected on her maiden victory on the LET Access Series at the Amundi Czech Ladies Challenge on Sunday.

The German 16-year-old, speaking after her victory on the Development Tour of the Ladies’ European Tour, said: “I feel very relieved. I was super stressed today, but I stayed calm and collected and on the 18th hole, I thought, OK, I actually won and that was a big moment for me.

“The first round was definitely a momentum kind of thing. But the whole week I kept telling myself that when I go into that final round, I want to be many shots ahead because I lost in a play-off in Terre Blanche leading by two before the final round.

“It didn’t turn out the way I wanted there, so this time I wanted to nail it and go all out in Prague. I think that was the biggest motivator,” admitted the champion.

“I am super thankful for the process and the journey and I’m excited about sitting on the top of the Order of Merit as well. But I know it is a long season and we will see what it ends up looking like,” said Noja.

With her win, Noja moved to the top of the LETAS Order of Merit with 875.00 points after her third LETAS start of the season. She has a healthy 304-point lead in the LETAS Order of Merit and an even healthier 372.50 point lead in the LETAS Rookie of the Year Rankings.

March 31: Terre Blanche Ladies Open, France, second, €4,240, 320

May 19: PGA Championship Trelleborg, Sweden, tied 14th, €1,300, 55

June 3: Amundi Czech Ladies Challenge, Czech Republic, first, €6,000, 500