Lima Wins Finnish Challenge

Jose-Filipe Lima fired a brilliant final-round 66 to win the Vierumaki Finnish Challenge. The Portuguese star, who had not won a European Tour event in over three years, started the day five strokes behind then-leader Rikard Karlberg, but he shot the opening nine in 31 to put himself in contention.

Lima’s back nine was steady and he set the clubhouse target at 14 under par after finishing his round. He was very nearly joined in a play-off by South African Bryce Easton, but he narrowly missed a 40-foot birdie attempt to force a decider, handing the win to Lima, who admitted he wasn’t thinking about winning during the final round.

“I was not expecting that,” Lima said. “I knew I was playing well, but I didn’t think too much about the lead until the final hole. “To shoot 66 on a course like this is always a good score, and I thought that if I could make a birdie on the final hole then perhaps, I had a chance to have a good week. “I hit two big shots down 18.

To be honest I didn’t know it was possible to reach that green in two. “This win is going to give me some confidence heading into the rest of the year after what has been quite a difficult start to the season. First though, I’m going to enjoy the moment.”