Josele Ballester Crowned Champion at the Saudi International
Spanish golfer Josele Ballester secured his first professional victory by winning the Saudi International with an impressive final round of 6 under par, finishing the tournament with a total of 22 under par and a three-stroke lead.
This triumph marks a significant milestone for Ballester, who was previously an amateur champion in the United States and now solidifies his name in the professional golf arena.
The event, which served as the final stop of the International Series on the Asian Tour, also defined the players who secured their place in LIV Golf for next year.
Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe and Yosuke Asaji of Japan stood out in the qualifying round, obtaining the two coveted spots for the league financed by Saudi Arabia.
Vincent, who participated in LIV Golf in 2024, was relegated after finishing in 50th position in the overall standings.
Ballester, a former college golfer at Arizona State, joined the Fireballs team in LIV Golf last summer, achieving two top 10 finishes in six appearances.
In the final round, Ballester started one stroke behind, but with an outstanding performance, secured the victory with a score of 262, leading by three strokes over Caleb Surratt, who finished with 69 strokes.
Anthony Kim, with a round of 70 strokes, tied for fifth place, eight strokes behind the leader, marking his best performance since his return to golf in LIV last year, after a 12-year absence.
