Chiara Noja, Europe’s youngest golfer to win a professional tour event, has been unveiled as the latest international ambassador to join Golf Saudi.
Noja, 16, secured her maiden pro title at the Ammundi Czech Ladies Challenge in June when finishing nine strokes clear of her rivals, and she marched to the top of the LETAS Order of Merit.
She will now join the likes of LIV Golf Tour players Kevin Na and Jason Kokrak, as well as golf legend Gary Player, as a Golf Saudi ambassador.
The German’s new deal with Golf Saudi was confirmed during this week’s Aramco Team Series event in Sotogrande.
Noja’s role with Golf Saudi will see her participate in on-course lessons and clinics with female amateurs of the game in a bid to help get more females into the sport.
“I have always enjoyed fantastic support from the whole team at Golf Saudi, not only via invites to their fantastic events but also in terms of providing advice too,” said Noja, who became a scratch golfer aged 11.
“By turning professional, I have been able to concurrently continue my academic career whilst still developing and improving as a golfer. I was lucky enough to make my debut on the Ladies European Tour at the end of 2020 and the subsequent twelve months gave me the confidence to turn professional in 2021.
“Golf Saudi is doing amazing things for the game whether it’s through their Mass Participation programs to drive youth engagement and their efforts to draw more people to our sport, particularly young girls and women.
“I am delighted to be confirmed as the latest Golf Saudi ambassador and to not only work alongside so many female superstars from women’s golf but to also support such an ambitious organization as Golf Saudi. Having come to prominence at a similar time to Golf Saudi, I’d like to think that we’ll be able to share insights mutually and both do our bit in terms of growing the game both in Saudi Arabia and globally.”
Majed Al-Sorour, the CEO and Deputy Chairman of both Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation, said: “Chiara immediately impressed me when I saw her play last year in Saudi Arabia.
“She put in two impressive back-to-back performances at both of our tournaments. To make not only the cut in the Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by PIF and finish T40 but to do so with a shoulder injury, before following this up with a T26 in the Aramco Team Series belies her talent and bodes very well for both our new partnership but also for the future of women’s golf on the Ladies European Tour.
“Having also both lived and played in the Middle East, she has the potential to become a role model for all young girls here in the region and help us with our long-term aims at Golf Saudi of developing the women’s game in the Kingdom. “