Published July 17, 2008 on May 5, 2019

Majestic Mikko Motors to Volvo China Open Title

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Mikko Korhonen claimed the second European Tour title of his career at the 25th-anniversary edition of the Volvo China Open, the Finn overcoming Frenchman Benjamin Hebert on the first play-off hole after a thrilling finale at Genzon Golf Club.

In an intriguing final day tussle, last week’s Trophée Hassan II champion Jorge Campillo, overnight leader Benjamin Hebert and Korhonen – all playing together – shared a three-way lead stepping onto the 17^th tee, but the 38-year-old from Helsinki nosed ahead with a crucial birdie four on the penultimate hole.

Hebert, one shot back with one to play, decided to pull out the big gun and drove the green on the par-four closing hole, two-putting for a birdie, a closing 69 and a 20 under total to take it down the 18^th once again.

But Korhonen, who had signed for a 66, never flinched in the face of intense pressure and a chip and a putt were enough for a winning birdie three on the extra hole.

The victory moved Korhonen to 17^th, from 98^th, in the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex and earned him a place in the second Major Championship of the season, the US PGA Championship at Bethpage in two weeks’ time.

For Hebert, it was a second runner-up finish on the European Tour, while Campillo has now finished in the top three in five of his last six appearances. Li Haotong was the leading Chinese player after carding a six-under final round 66 to seal fourth place outright.

Malaysia’s Gavin Green, Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond and Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena were among the 10 players tied for 19th place after the three players signed off with matching 70s.

 

Scores:

Play-off: M Korhonen 3, B Hebert 4

268 M Korhonen (Fin) 68 69 65 66, B Hebert (Fra) 67 68 64 69,
269 J Campillo (Esp) 65 69 68 67,
272 H Li (Chn) 67 73 66 66,
273 A Wu (Chn) 66 65 72 70, R Langasque (Fra) 67 69 70 67, J Smith (Eng) 67 70 69 67, D Lipsky (USA) 65 72 70 66, M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 67 71 71 64,
274 S Crocker (USA) 68 68 72 66,
275 J Kruyswijk (RSA) 70 67 70 68, V Dubuisson (Fra) 68 68 68 71, Y Ikeda (Jpn) 68 71 68 68,
276 B Wiesberger (Aut) 69 71 68 68, A Da Silva (Bra) 72 69 65 70, M Lee (Aus) 69 67 70 70, T Pulkkanen (Fin) 65 68 72 71, R Ramsay (Sco) 69 71 70 66,
277 B Henson (USA) 70 70 71 66, S Brazel (Aus) 68 71 72 66, M Tabuena (Phi) 67 75 65 70, J Catlin (USA) 66 76 68 67, P Pittayarat (Tha) 70 71 68 68, A Björk (Swe) 70 70 69 68, M Siem (Ger) 71 67 69 70, J Suri (USA) 69 72 68 68, G Green (Mas) 67 72 68 70, J Janewattananond (Tha) 70 71 66 70,
278 E Van Rooyen (RSA) 68 68 70 72, A Arnaus (Esp) 75 65 71 67, E Liang (am) (Chn) 70 72 66 70,
279 P Peterson (USA) 69 72 67 71, J Scrivener (Aus) 70 66 73 70, N Elvira (Esp) 68 69 68 74, H Porteous (RSA) 69 73 67 70, S Horsfield (Eng) 70 69 69 71, J Hansen (Den) 69 73 69 68, G Migliozzi (Ita) 73 68 71 67, Y Yuan (Chn) 68 71 72 68,
280 M Pavon (Fra) 68 69 75 68, J Singh Brar (Eng) 68 73 70 69, C Jin (Chn) 69 69 69 73,
281 N Colsaerts (Bel) 68 72 69 72, F Zanotti (Par) 68 72 72 69, T Kaewsiribandit (Tha) 68 74 65 74, J Morrison (Eng) 71 69 71 70, J Ye (Chn) 72 68 73 68, W Liang (Chn) 71 70 69 71,
282 A Rai (Eng) 71 70 71 70, R Lee (Can) 70 69 69 74,
283 A Sandhu (Ind) 74 67 69 73, D Van Tonder (RSA) 73 69 72 69, S Jamieson (Sco) 68 69 72 74, L De Jager (RSA) 72 68 68 75,
284 K Samooja (Fin) 71 71 72 70, S Manley (Wal) 68 70 76 70, R Wattel (Fra) 70 72 74 68, H Wu (Chn) 68 73 71 72, Y Kuang (am) (Chn) 71 71 69 73,
285 M Kokocinski (Swe) 69 73 72 71, W Ormsby (Aus) 72 70 70 73, Z Murray (Aus) 70 71 68 76, M Shin (USA) 69 70 71 75,
287 K Joshi (Ind) 69 70 78 70,
288 S Hend (Aus) 68 70 80 70, S Chawrasia (Ind) 71 71 72 74,
291 S Vincent (Zim) 70 72 78 71,
295 G Chen (am) (Chn) 70 72 77 76,