Blomqvist wins Finnair Masters on home turf
- Monday, 1 September 2008
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The Finnish pair, who began the last day tied for the lead with Italian Diana Luna, delighted the galleries with a mouthwatering final round battle at Helsinki Golf Club.
Blomqvist edged Wikstrom with a final hole birdie for a round of six-under-par 65 and a 54 hole total of 11-under -par 202. Wikstrom, who also birdied the last hole, shot a five-under 65 to finish on ten-under-par.
Blomqvist’s victory was her second on the Ladies European Tour circuit and her first since winning the 2004 OTP Bank Central European Open in Hungary as a 19-year-old rookie.
“You can’t ask for more,” said the 23-year-old Finn. “Me and Ursula, we both played really well so it was a very good match and that made it even more special. When the match is great you enjoy it so much because you have to put all of your focus into it and just winning in front of your home crowd is something very special.”
Blomqvist birdied the third, fifth and ninth holes taking a two shot lead into the back nine, but Wikstrom drew one shot behind after her birdie at the par-four 10th hole.
Blomqvist sank a curling six foot birdie putt at the par-four 12th to draw three shots ahead of her compatriot with six holes to play. But Wikstrom replied with birdies at the 14th and 16th holes to pull just one stroke behind her.
Both players birdied the par-five 17th hole and Blomqvist admitted. “I was thinking: “It is okay if “Urski” wins.” All of these kind of things come into your head when you are winning and then I thought, “Come on, I want to win!”” she said.
On 18, both players hit superb drives and then Wikstrom sank a brilliant 30 foot birdie putt to pile the pressure on Blomqvist. Showing her class, the Finn duly converted her 10 foot birdie chance to seal the victory and a first prize of €30,000. “When she made it I didn’t notice at all,” Blomqvist added. “I was just thinking: “I’m going to make my own.””
Blomqvist added that there may be c ause for a double celebration as her boyfriend Challenge Tour player Roope Kakko held a one shot lead with three holes to play in the final round of the ECCO Tour championship in Denmark.
“I am even more nervous for him than for me! Hopefully we are going to have a big party. Everyone is welcome – if that happens!” said the 2004 Ryder Cup Wales Rookie of the Year.
Spain’s Beatriz Recari shot a final round of 67 and tied for third place with the recent BMW Ladies Italian Open champion Martina Eberl of Germany on seven-under-par. It was Recari’s career best finish in three seasons on the
LET.
Italy’s Diana Luna was fifth on six-under, with Australian Anna Rawson sixth on four-under. Germany’s Anja Monke and Wales’ Becky Brewerton shared seventh a shot further back, while the previous week’s winner Gwladys Nocera of France finished in ninth place, for her tenth top-ten finish, including her three wins, this year. Blo
