Once again, it was a dramatic ‘Finnish’ in Vierumäki, so if you were unable to catch it, we have you covered. Here is what you might have missed from an exciting week on the European Challenge Tour.
When Mikko met…
Finland’s most decorated golfer, Mikko Ilonen, swapped his clubs for a microphone at Vierumäki Resort, as he reunited with many of his former competitors. The five-time European Tour winner may have decided to call time on his playing career, but after this performance, he may be headed for a new career…
Finland's most decorated golfer Mikko Ilonen has swapped his clubs for a 🎤 at this week's #FinnishChallenge pic.twitter.com/UP4s7UlovY
— Challenge Tour (@Challenge_Tour) August 2, 2019
He wasn’t the only local sports star in attendance last week, with Finnish ice hockey legend Teemu Selänne also putting in a guest Pro-Am appearance.
It’s not how you start, it’s how you Finnish!
Lima’s closing day charge was the largest final last round comeback by a winner so far this season. The 37-year-old erased a five stroke deficit to win, which was one more shot more than the four Matthew Jordan made up en route to winning the Italian Challenge Open Eneos Motor Oil in June.
Karlberg’s comeback continues
Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg may not have had the Sunday he was hoping for but his top ten finish still represents a remarkable comeback for the former European Tour winner, whose golfing career was left in question following a life-threatening infection in 2017.
The 2015 Italian Open Champion only returned to competitive action this season, after a year and a half recovery, and with two top ten finishes in his last two starts he looks set to return to the form to the highest stage.
*Rozner reigns *
Antoine Rozner will spend another week at the summit of the Challenge Tour Rankings after recording his seventh top 20 finish of the season in Finland. With two European Tour wins to his name this year, the Frenchman is still enjoying life at the top.
Drive for show
Mark Flint Haastrup drove away with much more than he anticipated last week after he aced the seventh hole for his fifth career hole-in-one, bagging a three-wheeled Yamaha Motorbike bike in the process!
The 🥳continues for @Mark_Haastrup.
— Challenge Tour (@Challenge_Tour) August 2, 2019
Fresh off his hole-in-one yesterday afternoon he's started day two:
🦜🦜🦜#FinnishChallenge pic.twitter.com/3DFC3n53ys
It was not the only ace recorded throughout the tournament however, with Haastrup’s playing partner, Spain’s Carlos Pigem, astoundingly acing the 15th hole the next day.
