Stormy Indonesian Open finally ends, with Ilonen victor by one  JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Mikko Ilonen of Finland shot a final-round 1-under-70 Sunday to win the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesian Open.  Mikko Ilonen is the first Finn to win a European-Asian co-sponsored event. (Ian Walton/Getty Images)
The 27-year-old became the first Finn ever to win an Asian Tour and European Tour co-sanctioned event with a 9-under-par 275 at the Damai Indah Golf and Country Club. India's Shiv Kapur, Frankie Minoza of the Philippines and Australia's Andrew Tampion finished one shot behind in the four-day event that was repeatedly interrupted by monsoon rains and lightning. "Obviously we have had a long week, a lot of waiting, but finally now it's over it feels really nice," said Ilonen. "I was trying to keep my mind clear on the golf course, but off the course it's really tough." Ilonen fired birdies on the fifth and seventh holes before dropping a shot on No. 8. He birdied the 13th and parred the 14th hole before afternoon play was suspended due to storms. When play resumed nearly two hours later, Ilonen was steady, winning despite a bogey on the final hole. Minoza, who won the Philippine Open two weeks ago, was tied with Ilonen after 13 holes but a wayward drive led to a double bogey on No. 14 and he finished at even par for the day. Kapur had five birdies and a bogey to finish the day at 4-under-67. 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 both early Saturday and early Sunday to complete 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," he added. "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 realize what I have done." Third-round leaders Ilonen and Minoza were tied on 9 under after 10 holes when play was suspended due to lightning at 1:30 p.m. 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 played on and never looked back," he added. "I am not disappointed because I know that was the main reason why I slipped back today." Ilonen had a minor scare on the 17th 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 Australian rookie's hopes evaporated when his wayward drive at the final hole resulted in a bogey, which saw him drop back to 8 under. Kapur made five birdies in his closing 67, but was unable to manage one in his last four holes to maintain his charge up the leaderboard. "I started off well and played quite decent rounds," said the 25-year-old, who also carded 67 in his opening round. "Anytime you have two solid scores, you are always happy." Copyright 2007 Associated Press and PA Sport. All rights reserved. |
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