Finland’s Minea Blomqvist claimed a one stroke victory at the Finnair Masters, defeating her compatriot Ursula Wikstrom on home soil.
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.
Blomqvist added that there may be cause 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.
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.
Leaderboard – Final:
1. Minea Blomqvist FIN 69 68 65 202 -11
2. Ursula Wikström FIN 68 69 66 203 -10
3. Beatriz Recari ESP 67 72 67 206 – 7
Martina Eberl GER 71 67 68 206 – 7
5. Diana Luna ITA 72 65 70 207 – 6
6. Anna Rawson AUS 70 71 68 209 – 4
7. Anja Monke GER 74 66 70 210 – 3
Rebecca Brewerton WAL 71 68 71 210 – 3
9. Gwladys Nocera FRA 70 71 70 211 – 2
10. Marina Arruti ESP 70 69 73 212 – 1