Date: June 02, 2013
Author: Omnisport

Ilonen wrests lead at Nordea Masters

Mikko Ilonen carded a seven-under-par 65 to take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Nordea Masters at Bro Hof Slott, Sweden. The Finn is hoping to end a near six-year spell without a European Tour victory, after last tasting success at this tournament in August 2007. He leads home favourite Alexander Noren, who is on 16 under, while his fellow Swede Jonas Blixt and half-way leader Matteo Manassero were two further back on 14 under at the end of Saturday&aposs play. Ilonen took a one-shot lead after shooting just 33 on the front nine, before a tremendous back nine added to a highly impressive round. He hit an approach shot to within three feet of the pin on 13 to set up a birdie, before adding another after sinking a five-foot putt on 14. And his fine run was topped by an eagle with the sand wedge on 15. “I need to shoot another low score and I can do it, but we&aposve got 18 holes to go and lots of other guys are still hunting me,” Ilonen said after his round. Of the eagle he added: “It was a bit of a funny yardage for me. It was raining and I just tried to squeeze it in there and got lucky with it a bit.” Noren, who was victorious in the Nordea Masters two years ago, sank mammoth 80 and 40-yard putts at the fourth and 16th holes, as he scored seven birdies in his round of 64. Manassero, who is hoping to secure back-to-back tour titles after winning the BMW PGA Championship, recovered from a slow start to hit three birdies on the back nine, but a double-bogey on the 18th severely hindered his chances of victory. Blixt chipped-in at the third and recorded no bogeys on his way to a 66.