Ladies European Tour Access Series Archives - Golf Digest Middle East

Dubai-based 16-year-old Chiara Noja reflects on a stellar 12 months as a professional golfer ahead of the Aramco Team Series finale in Jeddah

Matt Smith — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 04:08:39 +0000

Photo by Tristan Jones/LET

By Matt Smith
Only 12 short months ago, a Dubai-based 15-year-old school student took her first step into a brave new world in professional sport.

Last October, Chiara Noja took the decision to become a professional golfer and set out on the Ladies European Tour Access Series in her quest to secure the playing rights on the LET proper in 2023 that come with claiming one of the LETAS Order of Merit top-six spots.

Fast-forward one year and, following a hectic schedule that took her around the world, Chiara is back in Dubai and in schoolkid mode, preparing for her GCSEs — with her LET card in hand.

While cramming and recovering from weeks on the road, the German teenager has been juggling her career as a pro, and the demands that come with that, with another life as a student looking for the best grades in her exams.

After what has been an exhausting 12 months, and with mock exams going on following her visit to Ferry Point to compete in the Aramco Team Series — New York event, Chiara still has one competition circled on her 2022 calendar: the ATS finale at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in Jeddah from November 10-12.

“Has it been 12 months?” Chiara asks Golf Digest Middle East, having taken time out from her studying for a quick chat. “That’s right! It was almost exactly a year ago I turned pro,” she confirms.

“It has certainly been a very busy year. It has flown by. I have spent five-and-a-half action-packed months on the road in total, but it was worth it.

“Thankfully I got a win early on at the Amundi [Czech Ladies Challenge in June] and that set me up nicely in the Order of Merit and gave me the confidence to keep up the standards.

“I was also competing on the Aramco Team Series events thanks to my Golf Saudi backing, so it was quite exhausting.

“The LETAS kept adding events, and I told myself this is a marathon, not a sprint, and took the decision to take a break and select the events I wanted to play in.”

With her card safe, Chiara opted to skip the final three events of the LETAS season, opting instead to concentrate on her studies and the Aramco events in New York and Jeddah instead, knowing it would mean missing out on top spot in the LETAS Order of Merit.

“It was a very good decision to take a break,” she insists. “Sure, I finished second in the Order of Merit and could have won it if I continued to play, but I was playing my ‘C’ game and it was better to recharge. The No. 1 goal was achieving playing rights on the LET 2023. My card was safe so taking a break was the right thing to do.

“Honestly, winning the Order of Merit would have been the cherry on top of a great season, but going into it we knew what the aim was and we achieved that.”

She adds with a chuckle: “It was a lovely season — exhausting, but lovely.”

Reflecting on all those weeks of competition, it is clear in Chiara’s mind what the highlight was.

“The Aramco events. Definitely,” she says. “I got to be the kid again playing with the big girls, and I learnt so much. To play alongside the Kordas (LPGA star sisters Nelly and Jessica) and Lexi (Thompson, the Aramco New York champ and world No. 7) was amazing and an honour.

“I finished T-11 in New York and that showed me how far I had come. On caddie came up and asked me: ‘How do you keep your concentration?’ But I am just soaking it all up and hoping to improve each event.

“That result in New York really gave me confidence I can compete with the LET players next season. I have no goals other than getting some top 20s and maybe a few top 10s but I have no worries about keeping my card.”

Now, here comes the tricky part — being a 16-year-old student and an LET pro at the same time.

“Like I said, I have no worries about my card, I will just need to balance preparing for my GCSEs and choosing when to play on Tour.

“My grades would be better without the golf, for sure, and my golf would be better without the studying. But being a full-time student and a golfer has definitely made life more interesting!”

Looking ahead to her final bow of 2022, the Aramco Team Series — Jeddah, Chiara can’t wait to get going.

“Royal Greens is like a second home to me, really, as I have played the Saudi International twice and also on the ATS last year. It is a challenging course to play, due to the wind, but I know it quite well by now.”

One thing that Chiara is not looking forward to is the possibility of stifling humidity in Jeddah at this time of year.

“The Saudi International is played early in the year and the weather has been perfect, but the ATS last year was roasting and exhausting. Hopefully the weather gets a bit cooler by the time we arrive.”

Those appearances in Jeddah and at other events around the globe have been in part thanks to the support Chiara has received from Golf Saudi, for whom she is now an Ambassador, alongside the likes of Emily Pedersen, Anna Nordqvist, Anne Van Dam, Bronte Law and Carlota Ciganda.

“Even before I turned pro, Golf Saudi gave me incredible support and believed in me,” Chiara explains. “They managed to get me into a number of tournaments, and without those events I would not be where I am or be as good a player as I am now.

“They have been so positive in helping grow the game and are very clear in that vision — helping grow the game in the Kingdom and also globally, while encouraging women to take up the sport.

“Also the money they have invested in the shape of purses for events such as the Aramcos and Saudi International … without these events, the Ladies European Tour would not be what it has now become.

“Then there is the way you are treated at these events. You get pampered, properly looked after — be it the travel, the courses, hotels, food … you get a little spoilt at these events.” Again, there is that chuckle.

“It is great to see these developments, especially in the womens’ game,” she continues. “It is so nice to be shown respect as an athlete.”

Looking further ahead, once school is completed, Chiara is planning to play it a bit by ear.

“I don’t know really,” she admits. “Maybe I will look into the online courses that some of the other girls have done to get degrees. I like to be stimulated, so I will wait and see what takes my fancy as we go along. But right now, golf is the No. 1 focus.”

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Chiara Noja prepares for Dubai homecoming after four-and-a-half months on tour

Matt Smith — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 06:19:04 +0000

By Matt Smith
It has been a lot of holes, a lot of sacrifice and a lot of miles, but it has been worth it for Dubai teen Chiara Noja as she prepares for her final tournament on the LET Access Series tour this season before a well-deserved homecoming to the UAE.

The young German has been away from home — and school — for four-and-a-half months, while working on earning her full Ladies European Tour card for 2023.

After 4.5 months of being away from Dubai and School I’ll be playing my last 2022 @LETAccess @LavauxDe . Looks like I’ll be on the dark side of the draw this week, but let’s make this week worth it. Have never been more excited for the end of a tournament – I’m going home!? pic.twitter.com/3J7Hdh2b9c

— Chiara Noja (@thechiaranoja) September 13, 2022

“After 4.5 months of being away from Dubai and school, I’ll be playing my last 2022 LET Access Series event at Golf de Lavaux,” the 16-year-old wrote on Twitter. “I have never been more excited for the end of a tournament — I’m going home!”

Noja will tee it up on the LETAS one final time this week at the Lavaux Ladies Open in Switzerland — the 16th event on the 2022 calendar. The 54-hole stroke play tournament will take place in Puidoux, with a total of 40,000 euros available.

Noja is returning to the tournament having played in last year’s edition while still an amateur and will look to take on board what she learned in 2021.

“The golf course is definitely different from what I grew up playing,” she said. “It can be pretty hilly at times and there are lots of doglegs.

“It’s very different to back home in Dubai and last year was the first time I had played a golf course like that. This year I’m coming in with a little bit more experience under my belt, I’m going to try and hit in the right spots and miss in the right places.”

Noja will tee it up alongside Finland’s Karina Kukkonen and Norway’s Renate Grimstad. Though the 16-year-old knows that being comfortable and familiar with the golf course will matter, being able to deal with the changeable weather conditions will also be crucial.

She continued: “The golf course is pretty strategic, but it’s also pretty susceptible to the weather — it heavily depends on how the wind is blowing, how much it is blowing and if it is raining.

“If there’s sunshine and no real wind, then it’s going to be a really scoreable golf course and I can see scores going low, but if there’s a lot of wind blowing and it’s raining cats and dogs then maybe less so. We’re going to see how it goes and try and keep the ball in play and hole some putts.”

As well as leading the Order of Merit and aiming to secure one of the top six spots for a place on the LET in 2023, Noja is also top of the Rookie of the Year standings.

With her maiden professional victory at the Czech Ladies Challenge, the teenager has recorded eight further top-10s and two top-15 finishes in 2022.

However, it has been a long season for Noja and once the LETAS season is finished she will be looking forward to some normality back at home.

She added: “It has been a really rewarding season to some extent, but I also think it’s been tough mentally and physically. It’s been a long few months, I’ve not been home in over four months now, so I think the homesickness is kicking in.

“I’m really grateful for some of the golf I’ve been able to play and the opportunities out there, it’s been a great season and I’m looking forward to getting back into that teenager routine.”

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Ladies European Tour: Justin Rose adds event to LET Access Series this September

Matt Smith — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 11:13:54 +0000

By Matt Smith
The LET Access Series (LETAS) has announced that DP World Tour and Ryder Cup star Justin Rose and his wife have stepped in to add an event on the 2022 calendar — with the Rose Ladies Open taking place this September.

Following on from the huge success of the Rose Ladies Series over the past few years, Kate and Justin Rose felt it was a natural progression to increase their support of the professional ladies game with a tournament on the LET Access Series.

Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire, England, will play host to the 54-hole stroke play tournament from September 23-25 which will boast a prize fund of €65,000; the largest prize fund this season outside of the Grand Final.

A field of 108 players will be teeing it up on the par-72 Melbourne Course in the season-long Order of Merit pursuit.

Dubai-based teen Chiara Noja leads the way in this year’s LETAS Order of Merit standings, and is looking good for full Ladies European Tour playing privileges in 2023.

Noja is taking some well-earned time off after her 11th-placed finish in the €40,000 Santander Golf Tour Malaga in Spain.

The 16-year-old Jumeirah Golf Estates member now has 1,700.65 points and a healthy lead over New Zealand’s Momoka Kobori (1,332.75). Lauren Holmey (NED, 1,137.50), Patricia Isabel Schmidt (GER, 1,103.21), Anna Magnusson (SWE, 939.21) make up the top five in the race for full Ladies European Tour cards.

“We are really excited to announce the Rose Ladies Open on the LET Access Series,” said Kate and Justin Rose.

“We want to give the female professionals more opportunities to play competitively, provide them the chance to compete for larger prize funds, provide opportunities to be seen and receive the exposure they deserve, so that we can continue to work towards change and the drive for equality and help provide the pathway to the Ladies European Tour.”

The Rose Ladies Series was created in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, inspired when Kate read about LET professional Liz Young’s search for support at Brokenhurst Manor due to the lack of playing opportunities for the women during lockdown.

The Roses immediately pledged to put their own money into a series of events to give the female golfers an opportunity to keep playing, and a tour consisting of eight one-day tournaments — including a three-day grand final — was created in the summer of 2020 and named the Rose Ladies Series.

The addition of the Rose Ladies Open to the LETAS schedule in 2022 means there are now 19 events on the 2022 calendar with the total prize money for the season reaching €850,000.

Alexandra Armas, CEO of the LET, said: “Kate and Justin’s continued commitment and support of women’s golf over recent years through the Rose Ladies Series has been fantastic. LETAS provides an excellent pathway to the LET and having the Rose Ladies Open in this year’s calendar offers another playing opportunity, which helps develop the professional game and strengthens the Tour.”

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Dubai teen Chiara Noja stretches Ladies European Tour Access Series Order of Merit lead with fifth-place finish in Scotland

Matt Smith — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 06:40:03 +0000

By Matt Smith
Dubai: Chiara Noja had to settle for fifth after shooting a final-round 75 in the €40,000 Ladies European Tour Access Series Trust Golf Links Series – Musselburgh but the Dubai-based teenager was still looking on the bright side.

The German went into the final round leading by one, but finished down the field behind eventual winner and playing partner Arpichaya Yubol of Thailand, who shot 67 for a 10-under total and four-stroke victory.

5th after leading over two rounds is always frustrating @LETAccess @MusselburghGC #trustgolflinksseries —> Sometimes you’ve got it and sometimes you don’t. Nevertheless, managed to earn a spot for the final qualifying of the @AIGWomensOpen pic.twitter.com/MCrSIVnxeL

— Chiara Noja (@thechiaranoja) July 16, 2022

Despite the blip, Noja managed to stretch her lead on the LETAS Order of Merit standings over second-placed Momoka Kobori — and also secured a spot in final qualifying for the AIG Women’s Open, the final major of the year at Muirfield in Scotland in August.

“Fifth after leading over two rounds is always frustrating,” Noja wrote on social media after the tournament. “Sometimes you’ve got it and sometimes you don’t. Nevertheless, managed to earn a spot for the final qualifying of the AIG Women’s Open.”

With Kobori not playing at Musselburgh, Noja stretched her lead in the Order of Merit. She has 1,639.25 points from eights events and a 306.5-point lead over the Kiwi.

The top six players in the LETAS Order of Merit will gain full playing cards on the 2023 Ladies European Tour.

LETAS standings

1 Chiara Noja (GER) 1,639.25
2 Momoka Kobori (NZL) 1,332.75
3 Lauren Holmey (NED) 1,097.50
4 Patricia Isabel Schmidt (GER) 954.88
5 Gemma Clews (ENG) 884.25
6 Kristalle Blum (AUS) 808.75

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Dubai’s Chiara Noja shines at Trust Golf event in Scotland

Matt Smith — Sat, 16 Jul 2022 11:44:13 +0000

By Matt Smith
Dubai teenager Chiara Noja continued her sensational season on the Ladies European Tour Access Series (LETAS) as she carded a second round of two-under 70 to lead the way at the Trust Golf Links Series – The Musselburgh Golf Club.

The youngster had a slower start to her round with a bogey on the par-four second, followed by two birdies on holes four and seven to make the turn in 35 shots.

“There were definitely some mistakes I coul have avoided but overall, I’m happy with my game and with two rounds under par,” commented the LETAS Order of Merit leader.

The 16-year-old made a key birdie putt on the last hole to put her in the lead by one shot heading into the final round and she will chase after her second professional win on Saturday.

“It feels great to be in the lead again and a win would mean a lot, knowing I’m on the right track. I’m just going to reflect on today’s round and get some good rest this afternoon,” added the leader.

Only one shot behind is Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol who fired a round of four-under-par 68 to put herself in contention in her second European start.

The runner-up from last week’s Trust Golf Links Series at Ramside Hall Golf Club had an error-free round with one birdie on the front nine and three more on the back.

“I think a bogey-free round is really good on this golf course. I’m very excited to be only one shot off the lead and tomorrow I will just try to focus on myself,” said Yubol.

Another stroke back is Germany’s Patricia Isabel Schmidt carding even-par 72 today, giving herself a chance to secure her maiden professional win.

Sara Kouskova from the Czech Republic and amateur Lauren Holmey from the Netherlands both share the fourth spot at three-under-par.

⁦@thechiaranoja⁩ leads by one shot heading into the final round of the #TrustGolfLinksSeries at ⁦@MusselburghGC⁩ ??????? #RaiseOurGame ⁦@trustgolf⁩ https://t.co/OX0bfxanZa

— LET Access Series (@LETAccess) July 15, 2022

In outright sixth is England’s Gemma Clews at two-under with four players in a share of the seventh place.

Noja is on 1,494.25 points, ahead of New Zealand’s Momoka Kobori (1,332.75 points), Dutch amateur Lauren Holmey (822.50 points), England’s Gemma Clews (821.75 points), Sweden’s Anna Magnusson (790.88 points), and Australia’s Kristalle Blum (781.75).

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Dubai’s Chiara Noja flying high once again in Scotland at Trust Golf Links Series

Matt Smith — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 05:22:29 +0000

By Matt Smith
Dubai youngster Chiara Noja is in prime position to consolidate her position at the top of the Ladies European Tour Access Series Order of Merit after firing a four-under 68 to join fellow German Patricia Isabel Schmidt at the top of the leaderboard after the opening day of the Trust Golf Links Series – The Musselburgh Golf Club.

The two Germans are one shot clear of the chasing pack heading into round two.

Schmidt set the early pace on the front nine as she carded a birdie on the par-five fourth and holed out for eagle on the par-four fifth hole to make the turn in 33 shots.

“I hit a good drive on the fifth and pitched it in from 70 meters. Sometimes I struggle with the opening rounds so that eagle got me well set for the rest of the round,” said the co-leader who was in the same position a fortnight ago.

“My takeaway from that tournament in France is to just continue playing like I did today and to not be shy hitting driver even if someone else does not.

“Driver is the best club in my bag, I hit it a lot today and it worked well,” added the 26-year-old.

The eighth player on the LETAS Order of Merit made three more birdies on the back nine and dropped two shots before matching the round of the day.

Her compatriot Chiara Noja was the first one to set the clubhouse lead at four-under-par as she only had one bogey on her scorecard on the ninth hole.

Taking the chances on the par fives second and seventh saw the Dubai-based teenager making the turn in 35 strokes before dropping three more birdie putts on the back nine.

“It was very steady today. Nothing felt incredibly awesome or bad, so it was just plodding along, trying to take the opportunities, and avoid mistakes,” commented the 16-year-old.

“I played solid off the tee trying to put myself into a good position each time. I hit the green in two on all par fives so I’m happy I took the opportunities there.”

Hello??????? @LETAccess pic.twitter.com/IzvQQPqgaK

— Chiara Noja (@thechiaranoja) July 11, 2022

The LETAS Order of Merit leader has put herself in contention once again after securing her maiden professional title and finishing runner-up twice this season.

“I’m happy with today’s round heading into tomorrow. We are going to try and keep the top position until the last round is over.”

English duo Gemma Clews and Amy Taylor tie the third place at three-under 69 while Czechia’s Sara Kouskova is another shot back after round one in Scotland.

At one-under-par 71 are Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, Scotland’s Kirsty Mitchell, and Italy’s Clara Manzalini as the three share the sixth spot.

Wales’ Lea Anne Bramwell and Dutch Lizzy Peeters round out the top 10 at level-par.

Noja leads the LETAS Order of Merit on 1,494.25 points, ahead of New Zealand’s Momoka Kobori (1,332.75 points), Dutch amateur Lauren Holmey (822.50 points), England’s Gemma Clews (821.75 points), Sweden’s Anna Magnusson (790.88 points), and Australia’s Kristalle Blum (781.75). These players are now all within reach of the elite six places that will secure a full LET card for the 2023 season.

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Dubai teenager Chiara Noja looks to consolidate top spot in LET Access Series Order of Merit at Trust Golf Links Series – Musselburgh

Matt Smith — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 07:45:37 +0000

By Matt Smith
Dubai star Chiara Noja will be aiming to consolidate her place at the top of the Ladies European Tour Access Series Order of Merit standings this week at the Trust Golf Links Series – The Musselburgh Golf Club.

The German, who plays out of Jumeirah Golf Estates, finished third in last week’s event at Ramside Hall Golf Club — the first of these back-to-back Trust Golf events.

German Noja battled against some nasty weather and is now on 1,494.25 points, ahead of New Zealand’s Momoka Kobori (1,332.75 points), Dutch amateur Lauren Holmey (822.50 points), England’s Gemma Clews (821.75 points), Sweden’s Anna Magnusson (790.88 points), and Australia’s Kristalle Blum (781.75). These players are now all within reach of the elite six places that will secure a full LET card for the 2023 season.

However, home hopes Tara Mactaggart and Hannah McCook are aiming for some Scottish cheer at Musselburgh, near Edinburgh in the €40,000 tournament.

Five spots for the AIG Women’s Open Final Qualifier will also be up for grabs and the top two players from both Trust Golf Links Series events will receive an invitation to the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open.

Mactaggart finished T6 at Ramside Hall GC and relishes the opportunity to compete even closer to her home.

“I’ve never actually played a professional event in Scotland so I’m really looking forward to the challenge ahead. Having support from home this week will be very exciting.

“I think this is one of the best parkland courses in the area and if the wind gets up it’s gonna be a tough test because some of the tee shots are quite tight,” Mactaggart and McCook share more than just the same flag next to their names as they both played golf together at the University of Stirling.

“We’ve been great friends ever since we were probably 11 years old and to go through the ranks of the Scottish golf teams, play university golf together, and to now be up there on LETAS is really amazing,” said Mactaggart.

Aberdeen native McCook is equally excited to play in Scotland as it can put her in a comfortable situation while on the chase after the top six ranking by the end of the season which will secure a full LET card for 2023.

She said: “It feels nice to play at home, I haven’t played a solely female pro event here yet so to finally have the chance is great.

“I have played so many golf courses around this area so I’m sure it will be nice. I guess just having the surroundings of home will be good for me this week.”

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Kiwi Kobori leads Dubai’s Chiara Noja at French mixed event on Ladies European Tour Access Series

Matt Smith — Sat, 02 Jul 2022 10:04:26 +0000

By Matt Smith
Momoka Kobori took a one-shot lead into the Hauts de France – Pas de Calais Golf Open, thanks to a second-round 72 in France, with Dubai’s Chiara Noja — the LET Access Series leader — in hot pursuit.

Kobori heads into the final round on five-under in the co-sanctioned tournament, which sees two separate fields, leaderboards, trophies and purses as LETAS and the men’s Alps Tour both compete at the Aa Saint-Omer Golf Club in the north of France.

Kobori will take her slender lead into the final round, one ahead of Scotland’s Hannah McCook. The Scot, who finished runner-up after Kobori in Montauban last time out, and is in contention once again.

In third place is amateur Lauren Holmey from the Netherlands, while Noja sits T4 alongside Spain’s Clara Moyano Reigosa and Patricia Isabel Schmidt, England’s Ellie Gower, Italy’s Clara Manzalini, and Dutch player Nikki Hofstede.

“The first two birdies helped a lot as it takes the stress off, especially when the conditions are getting tougher. So those were really nice to get a lot of early on,” admitted the 23-year-old Kobori.

“I’m happy with how I played today in the wind. It was definitely tougher today; I wasn’t expecting it to be that windy in the morning. You just have to adjust more to the wind so today was more of a challenge for me.”

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