Chiara Tamburlini, a 24-year-old from St Gallen, has made golfing history by becoming the first Swiss player to be named Rookie of the Year on the Ladies European Tour. In her debut year on the tour, Tamburlini accumulated 2,623 points from 23 events, securing an unassailable lead in the season-long competition. Prior to joining the LET, she played on the LET Access Series in 2023, turning professional in August and obtaining two victories which led to a third-place finish on the Order of Merit and securing her LET card for the 2024 season.
Starting her year strong, Tamburlini achieved top-10 finishes at the Kenya Ladies Open and the Aramco Team Series Tampa before capturing her first LET title at the Joburg Ladies Open. Throughout the summer, she continued to impress with a T2 finish at the Jabra Ladies Open, a T10 finish at the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open, and a fourth-place finish at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open. Tamburlini’s impressive performance secured her reputation as a rising talent in the world of professional women’s golf.
In a remarkable display of skill, Tamburlini secured her second victory of the season at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France, followed by a T3 finish at the Aramco Team Series Shenzhen. She concluded her season by clinching her third title at the Wistron Ladies Open in Taiwan, all but guaranteeing her the title of Rookie of the Year. Reflecting on her achievements, Tamburlini expressed her disbelief and gratitude at achieving her goal, highlighting the honor of being the first Swiss player to win the title and the joy of winning three tournaments in her debut year on the tour.
With the LET Order of Merit title still up for grabs, Tamburlini has the opportunity to join a select group of players who have won both titles in the same season. The LET season is set to continue with events such as the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – Riyadh, leading up to the season-ending Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España in November. As Tamburlini looks forward to the final events of the season, she remains optimistic about her chances of also securing the Order of Merit title, further solidifying her status as a standout player on the Ladies European Tour.
