Finland’s Mikko Ilonen ended Joost Luiten’s unbeaten run to set up a showdown against top seed Henrik Stenson of Sweden in the final later today (SUN) of the Volvo World Match-Play Championship.
Ilonen defeated his Dutch rival 2 & 1 while Stenson won 1up at the last hole against South African George Coetzee on the London Club course at Ash in Kent.
Ilonen, and the reigning Irish Open winner, was 2up over Luiten after seven holes before Luiten seized a 1 up advantage in winning the eighth, 11th and 13th holes.
However the Finn rebounded winning the 14th and holing a long putt at the 15th and then claiming victory with a birdie on 17.
Henrik Stenson shows his delight in holing a putt to win his semi-final match in the 2014 Volvo Match-Play Championship. (Photo – David Lloyd/www.golffile.ie)
“It was an unbelievable match as it could have gone any way as we both didn’t play our best and with the early tee time today we were still both asleep,” said Ilonen.
“But somehow I managed to make two long putts near the end and now have the chance to join some great names on the trophy who have won this event.”
Stenson was never in front in his match until the last when he holed a long par putt to win 1 up and against Coetzee and a player ranked 84 places on the World Rankings than the Swede.
Stenson, who was four under par for his last six holes, will now be looking to add a first Volvo World Match-Play title to his success in the WGC – Accenture Match Play Championship.
“I had to dig deep to win my match as I was never in front till I holed that putt at the last as George was so close in holing his par putt,” he said.
“It was a tough one and someone had to win but then I didn’t play my best to be 2 down early and while it wasn’t the most well-played match this week I still got the result.”
Luiten will play Coetzee in the prize for third place.
