Flying Finns lead the World Cup Qualifier in Poland

9/28/2008

Finland were on spectacular form in the third round fourballs at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup European Qualifier shooting a error free 64 to lead by two shots going into the final day.

Playing alongside partner Mikko Korhonen, Roope Kakko produced a spectacular display of golf shooting seven birdies in the fourball better ball format at Sierra Golf and Country Club, Poland to finish day three at 20 under par.

Hot on the heels of Finland are the Canadian duo of Wes Heffernan and Graham DeLaet who shot 66 to take second place at 18 under.

Portugal’s Tiago Cruz and Ricardo Santos cemented their third place position shooting a seven under par 65 to finish the day on 14 under par, four shots behind Canada.

And with fourth placed Switzerland a distant nine shots behind, the top three who will earn a place in the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China at the end of November looks virtually assured.

The Canadian team enjoyed a good start to their round but they just couldn’t match the Finns on the back nine.

Leaderboard – Round 3 – fourballs:

1.   Finland                                     64 68 64 196 -20
      Roope KAKKO / Mikko KORHONEN

2.   Canada                                    65 67 66 198 -18
      Graham DELAET / Wes HEFFERNAN

3.   Portugal                                   66 71 65 202 -14
      Tiago CRUZ / Ricardo SANTOS

4.   Switzerland                               68 73 70 211 - 5
      André BOSSERT / Martin ROMINGER

5.   Czech Republic                          65 78 72 215 - 1
      Jakub KUCERA / Ondrej LEBL

...   Norway                                     72 75 68 215 - 1
      Paul NILBRINK / Kristoffer REE

7.   Belgium                                    67 77 72 216   E
      Gerald GRESSE / Laurent RICHARD

...   Iceland                                      71 76 69 216  E
      Heidar BRAGASON / Bjorgvin SIGURBERGSSON
 
9.   Poland                                      72 78 69 219 +3
      Jakub OSSOWSKI / Marcin STELMASIAK

10. Israel                                        75 77 69 221 +5
      Itamar COHEN / Oren GERI

11. Greece                                     76 78 75 229 +13
      George DIAKOU / Themis GINIS

12. Slovenia                                   72 81 78 231 +15
      Janez GRILC / Damjan MURGELJ

13. Croatia                                     79 85 74 238 +22
      Darko LJUBANOVIC / Miro RAIC

Source: European Tour, Ota Doležal