Sports

Mikko Ilonen fired a closing-round 70 to claim his victory in the weather-interrupted Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open, becoming the first Finn to win on the European Tour. The 27-year-old carded a nine-under-par 275 total at Damai Indah Golf and Country Club to finish one stroke ahead of the second-placed 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. Mark Mouland finished an encouraging week, when he was the only Welshman to make the cut, in a share of 20th place.

After a stop-start event with weather delays on all four days, 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, whose previous best tour finish was third at the 2002 Celtic Manor Wales Open.

“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.

“I hit it left and I had a bad lie,” lamented the 47-year-old Filipino, a two-time winner at the Indonesia Open before it became a European Tour event. “I hit a flyer and my third shot was worse and came out with a double bogey. “I never gave up and I kept on fighting. At this course, anything can happen but Mikko, he was so good and very steady. “He just never looked back. I am not disappointed because I know that was the main reason why I slipped back.”

Ilonen dropped back to the Challenge Tour last year won back his playing rights after finishing 16th at last summer’s Open Championship having qualified from Conwy. He had a minor scare on the 17th yesterday when he found rough to the side of the green but a superb recovery shot allowed him to remain on 10 under. That would prove vital at the 18th as he missed a short putt for par but still holed out for bogey to claim his maiden European Tour title.

Tampion mounted a late charge, pulling to within a stroke of Ilonen with a birdie at the 17th but the Australian rookie’s hopes evaporated when his wayward drive at the final hole resulted in a bogey, which saw him drop back to eight under. Kapur made five birdies in his closing 67 but was unable to manage one in his last four holes to maintain his charge.

“I started off well,” said the 25-year-old, who also carded 67 in his opening round. “Anytime you have two solid scores, you are always happy.” The top British player was English rookie James Heath, who made a sparkling start with five birdies in his first eight holes to move to eight under. However, a triple-bogey on the par-four 11th derailed his challenge as he finished in a tie for eighth.