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Josele Ballester poses with the trophy after winning the American amateur in Hazeline in Minnesota last summer.
USGA/Chris Keane
Liv Golf has a new player, decorated making his debut this week. Josele Ballester, The amateur champion reigningHe dismissed membership in Korn Ferry Tour last week and now officially signed with Liv Golf, joining the Fireballs team captured by 2017 Sergio Garcia collaborator and champion.
Liv announced Fireballs signed Ballester in a multi-year deal on Wednesday, and he will make his first start Friday at Liv Golf Virginia at Robert Trent Golf Club in Gainesville, VA.
Ballester just finished his old season in Arizona State with a T4 finish in the NCAA Championship, though his biggest victory last August came to Hazeline last year in Minnesota, where he defeated Noah Kent 2 to the US amateur title.
As an elderly in Arizona State, Ballester was set up to no. 3 in the amateur golf ranking in the world. He lost cutting in masters (a start gained through his victory in the US) but made more titles to relieve at RAE’s Creek (for which he later apologized).
Ballester was on the line to get membership in Korn Ferry Tour, finishing third in the PGA Tour University program, which was formed to create trails to Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour for Golf College top players but Monday Golf Channel’s Romine reported that he had rejected membership.
On Wednesday, the assumption was most about the reason why he rejected it became clear.
Ballester, 21, joining the Garcia team is also no influx. Garcia’s father, Victor Garcia, is the long-term golf coach of Ballester and Sergio and Josele have known each other for years.
“Josele will be a great addition, not only for fireballs but also for Liv League,” Sergio Garcia said in a notice. “I can’t wait to be with him while he makes his professional debut.”
After playing his first Liv event this week, Ballester goes to Oakmont for next week’s US Open, another start he got after his US title.
