Branden Grace closed out a successful PIF Saudi International at Riyadh Golf Club with a final round of six-under-par 65 to take a share of sixth place in the Asian Tour tournament.
Added to his fine third round of eight-under-par 63, that final round moved him to 17-under-par. That was four shots behind the lead, which was shared after regulation play by Cameron Smith of Australia, Caleb Surratt of the United States, and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann on 21-under-par. Niemann emerged victorious from the play-off after the second hole.
That result put Niemann top of the International Series Rankings race on 1,126 points, edging out fellow LIV Golf League player Peter Uihlein from the United States, who had been leading going into the final tournament of the season, by the slimmest of margins with just 13.3 points separating the pair once the dust had settled.
Grace dropped a shot on the 16th after reaching the 15th on seven-under when he made his seventh birdie there. That was the only green he didn’t hit in regulation all day in an accurate display whoch gave him plenty of opportunities.
Jayden Schaper closed with a four-under 67 to reach 15-under for the tournament. That put him in a share of 17th with, amongst others, Ian Snyman, who signed off with a three-under 68, and Louis Oosthuizen, who went low with his seven-under 64.
Dean Burmester and Jaco Ahlers were a hot back on 14-under in a share of 22nd after closing rounds of 67 and 70 respectively. Rupert Kaminski finished up in a share of 39th on 11-under after he carded a closing five-under 66.
