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Sports

Kokrak claims first win in Boise

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

Boise, ID – Jason Kokrak closed with a bogey-free, four-under 67 Sunday to earn his first Nationwide Tour title at the Boise Open.

Kokrak finished the victory at 18-under-par 266 at Hillcrest Country Club.

"I'm glad I went out there and had a bogey-free round and got it done today," Kokrak said in a television interview. "I am actually just pleased to come out with a win and hopefully go the rest of the year and get my [PGA Tour] card by the end of the year."

John Mallinger also shot 67 to take second at minus-16. This was his second straight runner-up finish.

"It has been a good month for me," Mallinger said in an interview with Golf Channel. "I had a top-15 in Greensboro and then missed the [FedExCup] playoffs, so I wanted to come down here and keep playing and playing well."

Jonas Blixt and Ken Duke both also carded 67s in the final round. They were joined in third place at 15-under-par 269 by Camilo Benedetti (66).

Rahil Gangjee shared the third-round lead with Kokrak, but struggled to a two- over 73 to tumble into a share of 18th at minus-12.

Kokrak, a Nationwide Tour rookie, got off to a fast start as he birdied the second and third to move to 16-under. After making four consecutive pars, he birdied the par-three eighth.

As Kokrak cruised to seven pars in a row from the ninth, Blixt caught fire to get within one of the lead. Blixt birdied Nos. 14 and 15 before converting an eagle chance at the par-five 16th. However, he bogeyed 17 before closing with a par.

Mallinger, who finished one behind Gary Christian last week, then got within one when he eagled the 16th. He could only par the last two holes to finish at minus-16.

Kokrak made birdie on 16 to extend his lead back to two strokes. He parred the final two holes to seal his first tour title.

"I do like to know where people stand, so I had my caddie and myself keep an eye on the leaderboard, and keep an eye on who was making a run," said Kokrak on TV. "I just stuck to my game plan and if I needed to get a little more aggressive, I was going to get more aggressive."

Thanks to the win, Kokrak soared from 70th to 13th on the money list.

"It's awesome. That was my goal as a kid and here I stand today," Kokrak said on TV when asked about possibly getting his PGA Tour card for next year.

NOTES: Kokrak, who was one of two alternates to get into the field this week, picked up $130,500 for the win...Kokrak had just one bogey over the final 59 holes of the tournament...After missing the cut in his first tour start, Mallinger has posted four straight top-10s and three consecutive top-three finishes and has soared to 12th on the money list...The tour heads to California next week for the Soboba Golf Classic, where Steven Bowditch won last year.