Swiss golfer Chiara Tamburlini delivered a commanding performance at the Joburg Ladies Open, clinching victory with a total score of 275 (70 68 67 70, -17), a remarkable seven strokes ahead of Thailand’s Aunchisa Utama, who finished second with 282 (-10).
Chiara Tamburlini, results
Played at the Modderfontein Golf Club (par 73) in Johannesburg, South Africa, the tournament organized by the Ladies European Tour in collaboration with the Sunshine Ladies Tour saw Virginia Elena Carta secure a respectable 16th place with a score of 289 (73 76 68 72, -3).
This came after her 11th-place finish in the previous Australian Women’s Classic. In third place with 283 (-9) were Indian player Diksha Dagar and Spanish player Luna Sobron Galmes, while in fifth place with 284 (-8) were Belgian Manon De Roey, South African Nicole Garcia, and Czech player Tereza Melecka.
Panamanian Laura Sluman finished in eighth place with 285 (-7). Unfortunately, English player Lily May Humphreys failed to make the cut after 36 holes, finishing 107th with 159 (80 79, +13), despite defending her title. 24-year-old Chiara Tamburlini from St.
Gallen transitioned to the professional ranks at the beginning of last year, participating in LET Access events where she secured two titles in thirteen appearances and earned her LET card with a third-place finish in the Order of Merit.
Starting the tournament in eighth place and moving up to second, Tamburlini decisively took the lead in the third round with a six-stroke advantage. In the fourth round, she further extended her lead with seven birdies, countered by one bogey, in sixteen holes to secure her maiden LET victory comfortably, despite a bogey and a double bogey.
She received a prize of €45,000 out of a total prize pool of €300,000. Chiara Tamburlini made a significant impact shortly after turning professional in August 2023 when she joined the LET Access Series. Her professional debut at the PGA Championship Gothenburg, held at Kungsbacka Golf Club in Sweden, was nothing short of spectacular.
Following a solid 2-under-par 70 in the first round, Tamburlini displayed remarkable prowess by scoring a phenomenal 30 on the first nine holes during the second round, which was considered the more challenging half of the course.
Her exceptional performance culminated in a resounding victory at the 54-hole tournament, clinching the title with a commanding five-stroke lead. Just three weeks later, Tamburlini continued to showcase her talent by securing another victory at the Rose Ladies Open in England, triumphing over her compatriot Elena Moosmann in only her third start as a professional.
Her remarkable achievements propelled her to third place in the season rankings, thereby earning her promotion to the prestigious Ladies European Tour for the 2024 season. In just a few short weeks since turning professional, Tamburlini had already made a significant mark in the world of professional golf, demonstrating her immense potential and setting the stage for a promising career on the Ladies European Tour.