Justin Harding finished best of the South Africans on Sunday in the Asian Tour’s PIF Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club as he closed with a two-under-par 68 to move to two-under for the week and a share of 24th.
Harding made three birdies early in the round on the first, fourth and sixth, but he was unable to pick up any more strokes and in fact dropped one with a bogey on the 12th. He finished 11 shots behind the winner, Harold Varner III of the United States, who held off a charge from two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, who closed with a six-under 64 to finish one off the pace. Spain’s Adri Arnaus was third, with Cameron Smith of Australia and England’s Steve Lewton sharing fourth on nine-under.
Harding shared 24th with Sergio Garcia, Thomas Pieters and Paul Casey.
Next best of the South Africans was Jaco Ahlers who closed with a level-par 70 to finish level-par for the week in a share of 38th. Jovan Rebula shared that spot with Ahlers and five other players – including Patrick Reed – after he battled his way to a three-over 73. JC Ritchie was one shot further back after a closing level-par left him in a share of 45th.
