Kakko becomes second Finnish winner on European Tour

Roope Kakko became only the second Finnish man to win a European Tour event on Sunday when he carded a nine-under-par final round 63 to clinch the Madeira Islands Open.

The 33-year-old finished three clear of Scotland's Scott Henry thanks to the best final round by a European Tour winner this season.

It also helped him to set a new record for the lowest winning score in the tournament's 22-year history at 24 under par.

Britain's Andrew McArthur finished in third, six shots off the lead, with Swedish duo Pontus Widegren and Sebastian Soderberg a further two shots back.

Mikko Ilonen is the only other Finnish player to have won on the European Tour with five titles to his name.

"This is definitely the best moment of my career but I have to say that it really helped me to have won two years ago on the Challenge Tour in Oman," said Kakko.

"I was at a stage where I really needed to win and I did it, and that really helped me today, calmed me down when the pressure was on."
Source: AFP