Patricia Isabel Schmidt Archives - Golf Digest Middle East

Dubai’s Chiara Noja just misses out as Schmidt claims first title at Belgian Open

Matt Smith — Mon, 29 May 2023 06:11:31 +0000

Patricia Isabel Schmidt. LET

Dubai-based teen sensation Chiara Noja just missed out on her second Ladies European Tour title as she finished tied for second spot behind Patricia Isabel Schmidt at the Belgian Open on Sunday.

Schmidt stumbled out of the blocks on Sunday with two early bogeys but four consecutive birdies on holes six through nine put her a couple of shots off the lead and she was soon co-leader after back-to-back birdies on 12 and 13.

But it was her superb eagle on 14 which put the 27-year-old in pole position on 11-under, which was enough to seal her first title on the LET.

“I don’t really have any words to say right now! I was just so nervous on the last tee,” said the rookie, who earned her LET card through the LET Access Series last year. “I really felt like I was shaking when I had to line my putt.

“I wasn’t aware of my position at all. I saw the leaderboard out there once, but I didn’t see it clearly enough. I just saw the colours of a flag and thought it looked like a Spanish flag. The eagle on 14 was nice. I hit a really good drive and then only had an eight-iron in.

“My dad was caddieing today. He was joining me for the first time ever since I started playing golf, because I was flying to Brussels and my dad had a week off, so he picked me up and took my bag with me. I guess it all kind of worked out.

“This win will give me a lot of trust and confidence. I came from LETAS last year and played quite well. Then I struggled at the beginning of this year and put myself under a lot of pressure, so I knew okay, I need to show that I belong here instead of just playing. This will help a lot to give me that confidence.”

T2 ?? Solid week! Played good, but the putter let me down on the front 9 today. Until next time Belgium @LETgolf at Belgian Ladies Open pic.twitter.com/8lXD0tcZkl

— Chiara Noja (@thechiaranoja) May 28, 2023

It was a good final day for Aramco Team Series Jeddah winner Noja, who produced a round of 68 with six birdies and two bogeys to move up the leaderboard.

“I explored a lot of the golf course,” said the 17-year-old. “I putted pretty decently all week. I think it was a pretty decent week, obviously not my A-game a lot of the time but I scrambled pretty nicely around the course, and I put together a good week.

“It was not meant to be today but Patricia played amazing golf and she really deserved that today. I wish I had holed that birdie putt on 18 though for outright second — that hurt.

“I seem to have a little thing about finishing second in Belgium. It’s my third year in a row, not at this tournament but I have done it twice on LET Access Series, so this has added to it. I’m looking forward to going into the next week.”

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Dubai teen Chiara Noja keeps up solid form on LETAS with Swedish Championship semi-final spot

Matt Smith — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 07:28:24 +0000

By Matt Smith
Dubai-based teen consolidated top spot in the Ladies European Tour Access Series Order of Merit thanks to a making it to the last four of the Swedish Championship at the weekend.

The German progressed to the semi-finals in the innovative event that saw the top 32 players after two days of strokeplay move into a matchplay format. Noja eventually went down to Netherlands’ Lauren Holmey 2&1. Amateur Holmey then lost the final to another German, Patricia Isabel Schmidt 4&2.

The champion said: “I think it will take some time to realise I have won but it feels great. I played some solid golf the last couple of days. I was happy to play with Lauren, we are good friends, and I was looking forward to the final match with her. I was hitting it solid off the tee, giving myself good positions into the green, and made some good putts.”

With New Zealand’s Momoka Kobori losing in the quarter-finals, there has been a change near the top of the LETAS rankings as Noja nears the title.

Schmidt moves up one spot to second place with 1,678.21 points, with Noja remains in first with 1,939.65 points.

Holmey moves to third with 1,461.30 points while Kobori is in fourth with 1,446.50 points.

The LETAS schedule takes a week off and comes back to Sweden with the Goteborg Open from 24–26 August at Kungsbacka Golfklubb.

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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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