Korhonen takes gold to deny back-to-back maiden champions
Volvo China Open report: What happened in Shenzhen?
Mikko Korhonen chased down Benjamin Hebert to win his second European Tour title at the Volvo China Open.
Hebert led by three overnight and it looked like for a second week in a row a first-time European Tour champion would be crowned, after Jorge Campillo finally got over the line at the controversial Trophee Hassan II.
Campillo himself was looking to go back-to-back, having waited so long to break his duck, and alongside Korhonen and Hebert the final group created a fascinating spectacle for the Genzon Golf Club crowds.
Korhonen’s 6-under 66 and Hebert’s 3-under 69 were enough to reach 20 under par, one clear of Campillo. And it was Korhonen who clinched the title – and the golden jacket – with a birdie from 12 feet at the first play-off hole.
Mikko Korhonen, the 2019 Volvo China Open Champion! ? pic.twitter.com/o6V0SIux9w
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) May 5, 2019
The result moves the Finn, whose other title was at last year’s inaugural Shot Clock Masters, into the top 100 of the world rankings.
Volvo China Open report: Final leaderboard
Click here for full Volvo China Open leaderboard.
Volvo China Open report: What the winner said
It’s amazing.
“I don’t know how I did it, probably the putter today and most of the days.
“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.
Volvo China Open report: The talking point
How good is it to see Victor Dubuisson back playing good golf again? We all expected him to go on and be do big things when he took the golfing world by storm with his swashbuckling Seve-esque style that earned him two European Tour titles, two major top 10s, and an unbeated Ryder Cup debut.
But the enigmatic Frenchman suffered a serious injury last year that ruled him out for most of 2018 and almost saw him quit the game.
But he’s back out there on a medical exemption and he’s back wowing the crowds again.
His 13-under-par finish in China was enough for a tie for 11th, and his record in 2019 now reads T38, T18, T12, T10, T30, T11.
It’s good to have you back, Victor. Now get yourself on the team for Whistling Straits…
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Alex Perry
Alex has been the editor of National Club Golfer since 2017. A Devonian who enjoys wittering on about his south west roots, Alex moved north to join NCG after more than a decade in London, the last five of which were with ESPN. Away from golf, Alex follows Torquay United and spends too much time playing his PlayStation or his guitar and not enough time practising his short game.
