Bjorn Hellgren of Sweden secured his first Asian Tour victory after a tense showdown with Jack Thompson at the Saudi Open presented by PIF, held at Dirab Golf & Country Club. Hellgren closed with a five-under-par 67 to finish 23-under, edging Thompson by a single stroke.

The two golfers, paired together all week, were tied entering the final round. Hellgren’s steady performance on the back nine, including a crucial birdie on the 18th, sealed his maiden triumph on the Asian Tour.

Thrilling finish and key moments

Thompson, who shot 68 in the final round, narrowly missed an eagle putt on the par-five 18th. Hellgren calmly holed his six-foot birdie putt to avoid a playoff. Earlier, a lucky break on the par-four 11th kept him in the lead, followed by a precise approach on the 12th for birdie, extending his advantage.

Malaysia’s Ervin Chang and American Charles Porter tied for third, three shots behind Thompson. Chang shot a 68, moving from 75th to 41st on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, securing his card for next season. Porter, a recent Qualifying School graduate, closed with 69.

Merit list and career milestones

Japan’s Kazuki Higa wrapped up the Asian Tour Order of Merit title, finishing seventh with a 68 and becoming the first Japanese player to claim the prestigious honor. Hellgren, who arrived in Asia in 2020 and faced several challenging seasons, expressed relief and pride at finally winning.

“Super happy. I’ve led tournaments before without closing it out, so this victory means a lot,” said Hellgren. His triumph marks the eighth win by a Swedish golfer on the Asian Tour since 2004 and the first since Malcolm Kokocinski in 2018.

Thompson, needing a solid finish to retain his tour card, secured his objective by finishing 21st on the Merit list. Ervin Chang celebrated his personal-best finish, ensuring his place in the top 65 for next year, alongside players including Hung Chien-yao, Justin Quiban, Ahmad Baig, and Sarut Vongchaisit.