News All Articles
Korhonen in cruise control
News

Korhonen in cruise control

Mikko Korhonen remained on course for a first European Tour victory as he opened up a six-shot lead with nine holes to play at the Shot Clock Masters.

Mikko Korhonen - at the top at the Shot Clock Masters

The Finn entered the final day at Diamond Country Club with a five-shot lead and despite a first bogey of the week on the ninth, he turned in 34 to get to 15 under and extend his advantage.

Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and England's Steve Webster were in the clubhouse at nine under, with Frenchman Raphaël Jacquelin, Scot Connor Syme and South African Justin Walters leading the charge on the course.

Every player in the field was on the clock for every shot, with home favourite Markus Brier and Swede Oscar Stark both handed one-shot penalties for bad times on Sunday.

Korhonen has been to the Qualifying School 12 times - winning the Final Stage in 2014 and is playing his 146th European Tour event this week.

The 37 year old's lead was cut to four shots by the time he teed off, with Jacquelin birdieing the first, fourth and sixth to sit at nine under.

A stunning approach by Jacquelin then moved him into double figures but Korhonen played a beautiful approach from the rough on the third to set up a 14th birdie of the week.

Playing partner Walters had bogeyed the second but he birdied the fourth before the hooter sounded due to lightning in the area, bringing a one hour and 20 minute delay.

That did not prove a problem for the final group, however, as Korhonen holed a 12-footer for a birdie, with Walters also making a gain from distance.

Both men then hit brilliant tee-shots in to the par three sixth and Korhonen led by six, although Walters reduced the gap with a fourth birdie in a row from tap-in range at the seventh.

Tree trouble on the next would result in a double-bogey for Walters and when Jacquelin played a poor chip on the 14th, the lead was seven.

Korhonen's bogey-free run at this event ended at 62 holes on the next after he hit a tree with his second but he still took a six-shot lead into the back nine.

Syme was on the charge with birdies on the third, fifth and sixth but made back-to-back bogeys before recovering with a gain on the tenth.

Playing partners Colsaerts and Webster both signed for rounds of 67 to set the target.

Spaniard Scott Fernandez, Welshman Oliver Farr and England's Ashley Chesters were in the clubhouse at eight under.

Read next

Discover more

;