A feat by Spaniard Josele Ballester who won the PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment, an Asian Tour event held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with 262 (66 65 66 65, -22) shots. The 22-year-old from Castelln de la Plana, who began his career directly at LIV Golf, won in just his tenth professional appearance, an event dominated by Arab Super League players, who occupied the top ten spots and 14 of the 15 overall.
Asian Tour, results
On the par-71 course at Riyadh Golf Club, Ballester, the son of athletes (his father Jos Luis is a former Olympic swimmer and his mother Sonia Barrio, a field hockey player who won gold at the 1992 Olympics), coached by Sergio Garcia's father and included in the Spanish champion's team at LIV Golf, rose from third place with a 65 (-6, six birdies) and was rewarded for his success with a $1,000,000 check out of a $5,000,000 prize pool, the highest ever in a tour event.
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He edged out American Caleb Surratt, second at 265 (-19), by three strokes, gaining revenge after his playoff loss at the LIV Golf Chicago in August. He also edged out South African Dean Burmester, third at 267 (-17), by five strokes. Six other Superleague players followed: England's Richard Bland, fourth at 268 (-16), Australia's Lucas Herbert, Americans Jason Kikrak and Anthony Kim, South Africa's Branden Grace, England's Tyrrell Hatton, and Poland's Adrian Meronk, fifth at 270 (-14).
Stefano Mazzoli, 101st at 145 (75 70, +3), failed to make the cut. The 28-year-old from Segrate (MI), after earning his place on the DP World Tour (eighth in the HotelPlanner Tour ranking), is now aiming to retain his spot on the Asian Tour. With two tournaments remaining on the circuit, he is 55th in the rankings for the top 65. And this is all about this Pif event.
