FINLAND’S Mikko Ilonen completed a wire-to-wire victory as he celebrated his 300th European Tour appearance by winning the Irish Open at Fota Island Resort.
Ilonen carded a final round of 70 to finish 13 under par, one shot ahead of Italy’s Edoardo Molinari, with Sweden’s Kristoffer Broberg and English duo Danny Willett and Matthew Baldwin another shot back in third.
Graeme McDowell had been hoping to claim a first professional victory in Ireland in front of the massive crowds in Cork, but struggled on the greens and had to settle for a closing 71 and a share of sixth with Magnus A Carlsson, his first top-ten finish in 13 appearances in the event.
Wade Ormsby was Australia’s best, closing with a 4-under 67 to finish the event on 1-under tied for 49th.
The 2014 Irish Open proved to be another wonderful celebration of golf both on and off the course, with more than 100,000 fans flocking to Fota Island Resort across the week.
The European Tour moves on to Germany this week for the BMW International Open at the Golf Club Gut Lärchenhof in Köln.
2014 Irish Open Results