Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho secured a dramatic victory at the two million United States dollar International Series Morocco, claiming his first title in the series and his second triumph on the Asian Tour. The twenty-five-year-old navigated a demanding course with remarkable composure, dropping just three shots over four days to finish with a phenomenal nineteen-under par total. His decisive performance earned him the winner’s cheque of three hundred and sixty thousand United States dollars, simultaneously elevating him to second place in the Asian Tour Order of Merit and third in the International Series Rankings.
The championship culminated in a tense, final-day duel between the rising star and his childhood idol, two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson. Kho established a favourable early rhythm, reaching four-under par for his round through ten holes with a cluster of five birdies, but the elusive sixth birdie stubbornly evaded him as the pressure mounted. The turning point arrived on the par-five eighteenth hole after Watson had drawn level with a spectacular bunker save for birdie on the seventeenth. Under immense scrutiny, Kho delivered a flawless final birdie, whilst Watson pulled his approach shot towards the digital displays and failed to secure the necessary up-and-down to force a playoff.
Further down the leaderboard, a fierce battle for podium placements unfolded amongst a highly competitive chasing pack. The Thai contingent mounted a formidable challenge, with Suteepat Prateeptienchai and Jazz Janewattananond ultimately securing a tie for third place at fifteen-under par. Their impressive campaigns could have yielded even greater rewards had it not been for late unforced errors; Suteepat suffered consecutive bogeys on his final two holes, whilst former Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Jazz relinquished a crucial shot after finding a fairway bunker on the eighteenth, denying him outright third place.
Rounding out the standout performances, Australian contender Elvis Smylie engineered a magnificent late surge, carding six birdies across his final seven holes to sign for a brilliant sixty-six. This spectacular finish propelled him into a tie for fifth place at fourteen-under par. He was joined in this elite group by South Africa’s Ian Snyman and Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent, who both posted rounds of sixty-seven, alongside Japan’s Takanori Konishi. The tournament’s conclusion marks the end of a gruelling three-week Moroccan swing for the tour, cementing Kho’s status as a formidable competitor on the international stage.
