Mikko Korhonen clinched his second victory on the European Tour as he edged out Benjamin Hebert on the opening play-off hole at the Volvo China Open.
Nearly a year on from his win at the Shot Clock Masters in Austria, Korhonen carded seven birdies in his closing six-under-par 66 to draw level with Hebert, who held a three-shot lead overnight.
The pair could not be split on 20 under after 72 holes but it was Korhonen who held his nerve when they played the 18th again, the Finn sinking an 11-foot putt for birdie as his French opponent could only make par.
“It’s amazing. I don’t know how I did it, probably the putter today and most of the days,” said Korhonen, who collects 585 Race to Dubai points to surge from 98th to 17th on the Race to Dubai standings.
“All day it was a battle, everybody was making putts. I had to just stay there and make my putts and just concentrate on the moment.”
Yellow suits you, @Karhanen 💛#VolvoChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/0bBmxaPz0Z
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) May 5, 2019
Four birdies on the back nine ignited the 38-year-old’s charge and even took him into the lead, only for Hebert to force a play-off with two birdies in the final three holes in his final round of 69.
Korhonen and Hebert finished one shot ahead of Spain’s Jorge Campillo, their third playing partner on Sunday, at Genzon Golf Club while home hope Li Haotong came fourth on 16 under overall.
England’s Jordan Smith made back-to-back gains at the end of his round to finish alongside four others on 15 under while Scotland’s Richie Ramsay was three shots further back in a share of 14th.
Provided by Press Association SportÂ
