Following a first-class opening round, amateur golfer Saud Al Sharif keeps his cool, and finishes tied at the PIF Saudi Open
10 December, 2022, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Exceptional performance from 23-years old Saudi during the PIF Saudi Open, at Riyadh Golf Club. Finishing 32nd after an incredible first round 7-under par score, Al Sharif finished head and shoulders ahead of his fellow Saudi National competitors, by posting an overall score of 138 (6-under par), after two days, seven shots clear of the next best Saudi player.
The winning amateur was fellow competitor, Elyes Barhoumi from Tunisia (score of 136, 8-under par, who beat Al Shariff into first place during last week’s Pan Arabic Championship, in Tunisia. Barhoumi automatically qualifies to play in next year’s PIF Saudi International, at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, competing against some of the best players in the world, including former champions Dustin Johnson and Harold Varner III.
The tournament was sanctioned by the Asian Development Tour for the first time in its history, welcoming players from Europe, Asia, North America, Australasia and the Middle-east, competing for a prize purse of $200,000USD. A cut was held at the end of day two, from which 60 players and tied went forward to qualify for the final round.
Having made the cut easily, Al Sharif and only two other amateurs, competed against Asian Development Tour professional golfers, in the hunt for the tournament victory. After the final days play, Al Shariff finished in 32, a tremendous achievement towards the end of the golfing season.
The winner of the PIF Saudi Open was Naraajie Ramadhan Putra, who comfortably held off competition on the final day, finishing with a total of 209 (7 under-par), a brilliant score on what was a difficult day, following overnight rain and a delayed start.
Majed Al Sorour, CEO of Golf Saudi said: "We have witnessed an incredible week of scoring, including a new course record of 10-under par, achieved on day one of the event. We are proud to host an Asian Development Tour for the first time here in Saudi Arabia, and hope that the continued development of events in the Kingdom, will enable more young players to benefit from the experience. We hope that the success of Saud Al Sharif this week, can lead to more high finishes across the Asian Tour in years to come. We thank the PIF for partnering with the Saudi Open for the first time, and we are very excited about hosting the eight edition of the tournament in 2023, welcoming all competitors back into the Kingdom once again.
Meanwhile, Associate Director, Partnerships, Ken Kudo commented: “It’s been a brilliant start to our relationship with Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation, hosting the first ever Asian Development Tour event in Riyadh. The team and players have had a brilliant experience, and we look forward to competing in Dhahran next week, the penultimate event on the 2022 schedule. We thank the PIF and all sponsors for making the event possible.
The Saudi Open is part of a series of events that Golf Saudi holds annually to develop raise awareness of the game in the Kingdom as well as developing home-grown future talent. By holding such events, Golf Saudi is looking to increase the number of golfers throughout the Kingdom within all age groups and demographics. By working with other sports federations and the Ministry of Sport, Golf Saudi, which is the commercial development arm of the Saudi Golf Federation is looking to underline the wider benefit of sports participation more generally as part of Saudi Arabia’s progress towards its Vision 2030 goals to improve its citizens quality of life.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia [1 November 2024] – It was all smiles for England&...
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia [October 17, 2024] – Charley Hull is on the hunt t...
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia [September 25, 2024] - Best friends and former Saudi cha...
Shenzhen, China [October 05, 2024] – France’s Celine Boutier fini...
Shenzhen, China[DATE] - China’s top talents and formidable LPGA players...
Shenzhen, China, 27 August 2024 – The Aramco Team Series presented by P...
London, United Kingdom [5 July 2024] – Spectators witnessed one of...
London, United Kingdom [2 July 2024] – Two of the standout na...
London, United Kingdom – London's only professional women's golf tourna...
The US$5million PIF Saudi International, powered by SoftBank Investment Advis...
Hyo-Joo Kim took advantage of an early morning start to claim the maiden Aram...
Seoul, Korea – The Aramco Team Series presented by PIF is heading to th...
20 April 2024, Riyadh: John Catlin’s march to the 2024 Saudi Open prese...
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 8 April 2024: The 2024 Saudi Open presented by PIF is s...
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; April 11, 2024: The 2024 Saudi Open...
Tampa, United States [March 10&n...
Tampa, United States - [Date] &n...
[Riyadh, 18 Feb 2024] Thailand&r...
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia [date] – The Aramco Saudi Ladies International pre...
Riyadh, 17 December, 2023:Thail teenager Denwit Boriboonsu...
Riyadh, 13 December 2023: Henrik Stenson, Kevin Na and Kieran Vincent al...
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 29...
Golf Saudi Ambassador Carlota Ciganda of Spain triumphed at Round Two of the...
March 18, Singapore:Young French star Pauline Roussin shot...
KAEC, Saudi Arabia, February 19, 2023: Lydia Ko proved her...
15 February, 2023 Muscat, Oman: Newly minted Saudi profess...
Jeddah, February 5: Abraham Ancer became the first player...
Jeddah, February 4: Mexico’s Abraham Ancer holds the lead at the PIF Sa...
Jeddah, February 3: Mexico’s Abraham Ancer and American Cameron Yo...
31 January (Jeddah): The PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Inv...
January 24, 2023, King Abdullah Economic City: A strong field is taking...
2021 winner Ko, golf’s youngest ever World...
December 12, King Abdullah Economic City: Harold Varner III has today confirm...
30 November, 2022, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: History will be made next week when...
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (12 November): 16-year-old Chiara Noja claimed her maide...
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (November 11, 2022): The Aramco Team Series Jeddah is pr...
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (November 10, 2022): A thrilling day’s action fini...
November 9, 2022: The prize money for the Ladies European Tour’s Aramco...
Hall returns to Jeddah following incredible recent success in King Abdullah E...
Jeddah, (July 20): The Aramco Team Series will return to Jeddah in November a...
Jeddah, (July 27): The Aramco Team Series returns to Jeddah in November and t...