Race to Georgia
Kim (L) and Duffield (C) will be heading to Augusta National Image Credit: Supplied

Kevin Duffield and KH Kim won their respective divisions to qualify for the World Final of the Race to Georgia at Riyadh Golf Club, Saudi Arabia.

50 players from qualifying rounds in Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia assembled for the second Regional Final of the season.

Duffield, receiving nine shots, scored 36 Stableford points with the equivalent of a gross 81 to win by just one point.

Kim (17), scored the best of the day 39 points, to win Division B by five points.

Duffield and Kim will join the two qualifiers from last week’s UAE Regional Final at Montgomerie Golf Club for a ‘bucket list’ prize which includes attending the 2024 Masters Tournament for a practice round and a tournament day in addition to the World Final of the Race to Georgia.

The Junior Division was won by Maaz Bin Saad, who won a set of golf clubs after scoring 34 points.

Another highlight of the day was a hole in one on hole 8 by Talia Almusbahi, a young Saudi female who plays at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club and receives a year’s supply of free pizza from tournament sponsor PAPA JOHNS.

“We have had another great day in our second Regional Final at Riyadh Golf Club," said Keith Watson, organiser of The Race to Georgia on behalf of REZA Hygiene.

"Congratulations to our two winners, they are both in for a treat of a prize. We are delighted to have the sanctioning of Golf Saudi for this event – and we were excited to see increased participation from Saudi Nationals during the Saudi Qualifiers around the country – both young and old as well as male and female. It is evident from events like the Race to Georgia Regional Final being held in Saudi for the first time that there is a genuine increased interest in golf at all levels from all nationalities.

"We look forward to seeing further growth and we are happy to play our part in Golf Saudi achieving their goals.”