n Fin wen die wêreld putjiespelkampioenskap George Coetzee verloor net-net op die 18de teen Henrik Stenson European Tour Ilonen lifts World Match Play title Finn Mikko Ilonen landed the biggest title of his career by beating top seed Henrik Stenson 3 & 1 in an all-Nordic final at the Volvo World Match Play Championship on Sunday. Ilonen, winner of the Irish Open in June, took a grip on proceedings when world No 5 Stenson found the water guarding the green at the par-three eighth hole. The 34-year-old stretched his lead to two holes by sinking an eight-foot putt at the 11th and his Swedish rival showed his frustration at a woeful tee shot at the short 12th, which finished 50 yards from the green, by slamming his club into the turf. Tenth seed Ilonen, making his first appearance in the tournament, splashed out from a bunker to five feet and when he slotted home his par putt it put him three up on a sunny but breezy day at the London Club in Kent. Stenson reduced the arrears with a birdie at the long 15th after finding the green in two but when he failed to hole out from 20 feet at the 17th it was all over. This is the best year of my career by far, Ilonen told Sky Sports television after seeing his name engraved on the trophy alongside golfing greats like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Nick Faldo, Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros. Last year was good for me and 2007 was a good year. Ive had a few of them but... obviously this is top, added the world number 52 after picking up the first prize of 650 000 euros ($829 205) and his fifth victory on the European Tour. Ilonen, the first Scandinavian to win the World Match Play in the anniversary 50th edition of the competition, reached the final by defeating Dutchman Joost Luiten 2 & 1 on Sunday morning. LONG DAY It was a long day for the spectators and, playing in that wind in the afternoon, I think Im going to feel it tonight at some point, said the Finn. I see Henrik as one of the worlds top players obviously but I also see him as my friend. Weve played so much golf together over the years and I felt quite comfortable playing with him, said Ilonen. It could have gone either way really and I just had a better afternoon than he did. We could play tomorrow morning and it might go the other way. Stenson, 38, scraped through his semifinal after holing a 25-foot birdie putt at the 18th to beat South African George Coetzee by one hole. I was quite low on energy in the afternoon, said the Swede. I feel like Ive been battling my swing a little bit in these gusting conditions for the last day and a half. I didnt play my best but no question Mikko didnt make any mistakes really. All credit to him for his fine performance this week. In the third place playoff, Luiten beat Coetzee at the 19th hole. FINAL Mikko Ilonen 3 & 1 F Henrik Stenson THIRD-PLACE PLAYOFF Joost Luiten bt George Coetzee at hole 19 SEMIFINALS Mikko Ilonen 2 & 1 F Joost Luiten George Coetzee F Henrik Stenson 1UP QUARTERFINALS Patrick Reed F George Coetzee 2 & 1 Victor Dubuisson F Mikko Ilonen 2 Holes Joost Luiten 6 & 5 F Pablo Larrazabal Henrik Stenson 2 Holes F Jonas Blixt ROUND 3 Jamie Donaldson F Patrick Reed 3 & 2 Jonas Blixt AS F Paul Casey AS Victor Dubuisson F Stephen Gallacher 2 & 1 Shane Lowry F Pablo Larrazabal 2 & 1 Graeme McDowell F Joost Luiten 2 Holes Mikko Ilonen 1 Hole F Alexander Levy Henrik Stenson 2 & 1 F Thongchai Jaidee Francesco Molinari 2 & 1 F George Coetzee ROUND 2 Victor Dubuisson 3 & 2 F Shane Lowry Stephen Gallacher F Pablo Larrazabal 1 Hole Graeme McDowell F Mikko Ilonen 2 & 1 Joost Luiten 4 & 3 F Alexander Levy Henrik Stenson 2 & 1 F Francesco Molinari Thongchai Jaidee F George Coetzee 2 & 1 Jamie Donaldson 3 & 2 F Jonas Blixt Patrick Reed 2 & 1 F Paul Casey ROUND 1 Graeme McDowell 3 & 2 F Alexander Levy Joost Luiten 1 Hole F Mikko Ilonen Henrik Stenson AS F George Coetzee AS Thongchai Jaidee 2 Holes F Francesco Molinari Jamie Donaldson F Paul Casey 2 & 1 Patrick Reed F Jonas Blixt 2 & 1 Victor Dubuisson 3 & 2 F Pablo Larrazabal Stephen Gallacher F Shane Lowry 3 & 2 By Reuters Source: SuperSport supersport/golf/european-tour/news/141019/Ilonen_lifts_World_Match_Play_title GolfEquipment.co.za (Online + Shop Since 2001) WE BUY AND SELL NEW AND USED GOLF CLUBS TRADE-INS WELCOME / LAY-BYS WELCOME (3 Months to pay) Address: 894 Rubenstein Road, Moreleta Park, Pretoria East, RSA GPS Co-ordinates: S25° 48.567’ E28° 17.814’ Tel: 082 335 7737 / 074 182 0564 Email:[email protected] golfequipment.co.za / facebook/golfequipment.co.za Photo (By Gallo Images) Mikko Ilonen (Finland) Finn Mikko Ilonen landed the biggest title of his career by beating top seed Henrik Stenson 3 & 1 in an all-Nordic final at the Volvo World Match Play Championship on Sunday.
Posted on: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 04:27:10 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015