Ilonen’s second win of 2007 sparks celebrations at Linna Golf – Scandinavia’s home of midnight golf
(Vanajanlinna, Finland – August 20, 2007) LINNA GOLF’S Mikko Ilonen won the Scandinavian Masters on Sunday, becoming the first professional from Finland to win multiple tournaments on the European Tour.
Ilonen, 27, birdied the par three 18th at Arlandastad Golf Club to finish two shots clear of the field on six-under-par, sparking celebrations for the second time this year at his home course in Finland, an hour’s drive north of the capital Helsinki.
The victory follows Ilonen’s maiden win at the Indonesia Open in February, where he made history by becoming the first Finnish professional to win on the European Tour.
"It’s an unbelievable feeling," said Ilonen, the 2000 British Amateur Champion. "If I had to pick one tournament to win, alongside the Majors, it would be this one."
Winning in Scandinavia has a special significance to Ilonen, who practices and plays at Linna Golf, a member of the PGA European Tour Courses group and acclaimed as one of the best new courses in Europe.
"You all saw the support we get from the crowds, it’s something we don’t get every week and I hope some other tournaments can learn from this. It’s unbelievable for the players to be out there."
Ilonen’s victory is sure to boost golf in Finland where there are now 115 courses and more than 110,000 golfers [KPMG Golf Benchmark Survey].
Anssi Kankkonen, a former European Tour Professional and golf academy director at Linna Golf, said: "Mikko’s success is huge for Finnish Golf and his play is helping put Finland on the international golfing map. He has worked so hard to take his game to the next level and we can not wait for him to come home to throw a big victory party."
Linna Golf, which opened in 2005 – designed by European Golf Design, a PGA European Tour/IMG company – and its historic castle hotel, has enjoyed a highly successful second year. It was awarded the 2010 European Amateur Championships, held the 2007 Finnish Open and opened a magnificent new luxury clubhouse including 18 golf suites and apartments with en-suite sauna and views onto the golf course.
Linna Golf benefits from 24-hour daylight in midsummer attracting international visitors wanting to experience midnight golf. For more information about Linna Golf, visit www.linnagolf.fi
Contact:
Matt Moore at Landmark Media on tel +44 (0)1780 752790 or mobile +44 (0)7791 798 185 or matt@landmark-media.com
