ILONEN BECOMES FIRST FINN
TO WIN EURO TOUR EVENT
Mikko Ilonen inked his name in the record books when he emerged as the first Finn to win an Asian Tour and European Tour co-sanctioned event at the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open today.
Ilonen, 27, battled through the inclement weather and fended off a charging field to complete the final round with a one-under-par 70. The Finnish talent delivered a winning total of nine-under-par 275 at the Damai Indah Golf and Country Club and walked away with the top prize of US$175,000.
Filipino Frankie Minoza, who won the Philippine Open two weeks ago, was piling on the pressure at the top midway through but he suffered a double bogey on the 14th hole and finished even-par for the day in joint second spot with India's Shiv Kapur and Australian Andrew Tampion.
Incidentally, the Editor's thanks go, once again, to Graham Suttie for reminding us that Andrew Tampion was the player who lost to Carnoustie's Eric Ramsay in the 36-hole final of the 2005 Australian open amateur championship. Eric was two up after 18 holes and went on to win 6 and 5.
Thanks, Graham ... what a memory!
Ilonen, a former winner of the British amateur title, said after his victory:
“I have been thinking about it (winning) all week. I had a really good start to the week and I have been trying to keep my mind clear on the golf course, but off the course it's really tough. Obviously we have had a long week, a lot of waiting, but finally now it's over it feels really nice.
“I have been imagining how it would feel to win and right now, when I was imagining it was probably a bit better. It's a bit of a rush everywhere at the moment but in the next couple of hours I will be able to relax and enjoy it,” he added.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
275 Mikko Ilonen (FIN) 66-68-71-70
276 Andrew Tampion (AUS) 68-66-73-69, Shiv Kapur (IND) 67-73-69-67, Frankie Minoza (PHI) 71-68-66-71
279 Thammanoon Srirot (THA) 72-67-71-69, Suk Jong-yul (KOR) 69-68-69-73
280 Alexandre Rocha (BRA) 72-68-73-67
281 Chapchai Nirat (THA) 68-69-72-72, James Heath (ENG) 70-70-70-71, Tony Carolan (AUS) 71-71-67-72
282 Rick Gibson (CAN) 72-70-72-68, Simon Dyson (ENG) 70-71-71-70, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 75-69-72-66, Christian Cevaer (FRA) 68-72-71-71, Henrik Nystrom (SWE) 70-69-72-71, Scott Strange (AUS) 69-69-72-72, Gareth Davies (ENG) 71-67-72-72, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 72-67-71-72, Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 65-74-70-73
TO WIN EURO TOUR EVENT
Mikko Ilonen inked his name in the record books when he emerged as the first Finn to win an Asian Tour and European Tour co-sanctioned event at the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open today.
Ilonen, 27, battled through the inclement weather and fended off a charging field to complete the final round with a one-under-par 70. The Finnish talent delivered a winning total of nine-under-par 275 at the Damai Indah Golf and Country Club and walked away with the top prize of US$175,000.
Filipino Frankie Minoza, who won the Philippine Open two weeks ago, was piling on the pressure at the top midway through but he suffered a double bogey on the 14th hole and finished even-par for the day in joint second spot with India's Shiv Kapur and Australian Andrew Tampion.
Incidentally, the Editor's thanks go, once again, to Graham Suttie for reminding us that Andrew Tampion was the player who lost to Carnoustie's Eric Ramsay in the 36-hole final of the 2005 Australian open amateur championship. Eric was two up after 18 holes and went on to win 6 and 5.
Thanks, Graham ... what a memory!
Ilonen, a former winner of the British amateur title, said after his victory:
“I have been thinking about it (winning) all week. I had a really good start to the week and I have been trying to keep my mind clear on the golf course, but off the course it's really tough. Obviously we have had a long week, a lot of waiting, but finally now it's over it feels really nice.
“I have been imagining how it would feel to win and right now, when I was imagining it was probably a bit better. It's a bit of a rush everywhere at the moment but in the next couple of hours I will be able to relax and enjoy it,” he added.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
275 Mikko Ilonen (FIN) 66-68-71-70
276 Andrew Tampion (AUS) 68-66-73-69, Shiv Kapur (IND) 67-73-69-67, Frankie Minoza (PHI) 71-68-66-71
279 Thammanoon Srirot (THA) 72-67-71-69, Suk Jong-yul (KOR) 69-68-69-73
280 Alexandre Rocha (BRA) 72-68-73-67
281 Chapchai Nirat (THA) 68-69-72-72, James Heath (ENG) 70-70-70-71, Tony Carolan (AUS) 71-71-67-72
282 Rick Gibson (CAN) 72-70-72-68, Simon Dyson (ENG) 70-71-71-70, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 75-69-72-66, Christian Cevaer (FRA) 68-72-71-71, Henrik Nystrom (SWE) 70-69-72-71, Scott Strange (AUS) 69-69-72-72, Gareth Davies (ENG) 71-67-72-72, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 72-67-71-72, Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 65-74-70-73
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Sunday, February 18, 2007
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