29/07/2023
PDGA Euro Tour #7 - Åland Open presented by Discmania FPO champion - Silva Saarinen!
It was a battle until the last hole and more! Heidi Laine was keeping her lead throughout the last round, but Silva never gave up and with birdies on 15, 16, 17 and 18, she put a preasure on Heidi, who had an eagle putt, but missed and had to go to a tiebreaker with Silva. Playoff holes were 17 and 18 in a loop, Silva had first drive and ended just outside of C2. Haidi bombed her backhand and it seemed she might be long, but stayed in bounds for outside of C1 putt. Silva gave it a bit, but ended under the basket, so Heidi had second chance to take it down... but missed her C2 putt, just barely low, hitting the cage. On hole 18, it was Heidi to go first and she went for a long drive, trying to get past the OB area for a possible eagle look again. Her drive started fading a bit too early, ending up in OB. Silva opted to lay up, but her drive was almost too long, stopping just shy of the OB line. Heidi then tried to go as far as she possibly could, landing in C2 area, while Silva played smart, crossed OB safely and made her upshot on the long side of C1. Heidi had to make the putt to have any chance, but missed, while Silva drained the last putt of the competition and claimed her fourth victory on Euro Tour and the first Åland Open Euro Tour title as well as the 2350€ first prize.
Jenni Karppinen took the championship Sunday by a storm and sprinted to a third place finish from a chase card with an outstanding -4. Hanna Janson is 4th and Amanda Lennartsson tied with Ida Emilie Nesse on 5th.
Congratulations to winners, this was an amazing experience in a true disc golf heaven and we can not but recommend to tune in to Disc Golf Network live coverage of MPO division starting at 16:30 later today.