Kokocinski wins maiden Asian Tour title in Dhaka

DHAKA: Sweden’s Malcolm Kokocinski secured his maiden Asian Tour title when he fired six-under 65 in the final round to win the AB Bank Bangladesh Open by three shots in Dhaka.

Kokocinski overturned a threeshot deficit from the third round to cap a winning total of 14-under 270 at the Kurmitola Golf Club yesterday.

The 26-year-old Swede takes home a winner’s purse of US$54,000 (RM213,000) in the US$300,000 (RM1.185mil) event courtesy of his breakthrough victory on the Asian Tour.

Kokocinski has become the third consecutive first-time winner at the Bangladesh Open, following Thailand’s Thitiphun Chuayprakong and Jazz Janewattananond in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

The Thailand-based golfer is the second Swede to win in three weeks on the Asian Tour, following Alexander Bjork at the Volvo China Open.

“This win means a lot to me. I don’t have a status on the Asian Tour before this week. So I am really pleased with how I played here”, Kokocinski said in comments published on the tournament’s official website.

“I have been playing well the last couple of months.

“I knew my game was good so I just had to stick to my game plan and hit some good shots coming down the stretch.”

England’s Jack Harrison, who led the event after the third round, endured two closing bogeys for a 71 on the final day to settle for a share of second place with New Zealand’s Ben Campbell with an overall score of 11-under 273. — AFP