European Tour: Mikko Ilonen fired a closing-round 70 to claim victory in the weather-interrupted Indonesia Open yesterday to become the first Finn to win on the European Tour.
The 27-year-old, who as an amateur captured the West of Ireland championship in 1999, carded a nine-under-par 275 at Damai Indah Golf and Country Club to finish one stroke ahead of the trio of Frankie Minoza of the Philippines (71), Shiv Kapur of India (67) and Andrew Tampion of Australia (69).
Thailand's Thammanoon Srirot (69) and Suk Jong-yul of Korea (73) finished in a tie for fifth on five under, while Brazil's Alexandre Rocha shot a closing-round 67 to finish seventh on four under.
After a stop-start week with weather delays on all four days of the tournament, Ilonen was extremely relieved to celebrate his triumph.
"Finally, it's over. I've been thinking about this all week but I've had to try to put it out of my mind and concentrate out on the golf course," said the Finn, who was forced to return to the Pantai Indah Kapuk course early on Saturday and yesterday to complete the previous days' rounds.
"It's been tough to do that, especially with having to go out and wait, and go out and wait again, but I'm feeling good to finally win it.
"I've been trying hard to imagine how it would feel to win but, right now, it's all such a rush.
"I'll probably take a couple of hours to let the feeling go down so I can realise what I have done."
Third-round leaders Ilonen and Minoza were tied on nine under after 10 holes when play was suspended due to lightning at 1.30pm for the fourth consecutive afternoon.
When they resumed play one hour and 45 minutes later, Ilonen stole ahead with a birdie on the 12th, only to find himself tied for the lead again one hole later when he missed a short birdie attempt after Minoza had drained a 12-footer to join him on 10 under.
However, the Finn would go ahead for good at the 14th after Minoza found thick rough to the left of the green and duffed his recovery shot en route to a double bogey.
• Two fine, up-and-coming professionals will sit back today and reflect on the often perverse nature of the golfing divinity: Pretoria's Richard Sterne in victory and Mossel Bay's Louis Oosthuizen in defeat.
Sterne won the Sunshine Tour's Vodacom Championship in the second hole of a play-off from Oosthuizen at Pretoria Country Club after the pair had been locked on 14-under 274 after 72 holes of regulation play.
"That," said a relieved Sterne after an inspired five-iron from 191 metres into the 18th on his third visit to the final hole for the afternoon had clinched it, "was probably the best shot I've ever played."
