Dubai: Dubai-based Chiara Noja (Germany) shot a first round one-over par 73 in the 54-hole €40,000 Santander Golf Tour Malaga at Torrequebrada in Spain on the Ladies European Tour Access Series (LETAS) on Thursday.
Commenting after round one to Gulf News, 16 year-old Chiara, the current leader of the 2022 LETAS Order of Merit, said: ‘‘I have hit the wall. Playing 10 consecutive tournaments in a row has just proved too much. It has been a great experience so far this season, you only find your limits until you challenge them. I will take next week off and have withdrawn from the AIG Open Qualifying Round so I can switch off and extend my break. This week, I realise already it is just about survival.’
Chiara’s round started impressively with three birdies in her first five holes, but bogeys on holes 7 and 8 took her to the turn in one under par 35 over the 6041 yards Par 72 hilly layout in Torrequebrada. The back nine took its toll on Chiara with bogeys on holes 10 and 15 to be back home in 38 and an 18-hole scorecard of 38.
Leading the tournament with players still on the golf course was a score of four-under par 68 with Chiara lying in tied 15th place.
Chiara will tee off on Friday in the second round at 12.24 pm local Spanish time in three-balls in the 94-player field.
