Roope Kakko Wins Madeira Islands Open by 3 Strokes

Kakko would finish on an astounding 24 under par, which is lowest score in relation to par in the history of the tournament. Scott Henry and Roope Kakko are Widegren’s nearest challengers at 15-under while it’s a stroke further back to Brandon Stone in solo fourth.

Roope Kakko (via European Tour): “I’m speechless”.

Pontus Widegren hung up a 5-under-par 33-34=67 in Saturday’s third round at the Madeira Islands Open – Portugal – BPI and leads by one shot with 18 to play.

Kakko birdied his final three holes en route to a day’s best 64 to put himself firmly in contention for Sunday’s final round.

“I came here to try and win this event and change my career so I’m over the moon to have done it”, Kakko said. Sometimes it doesn’t go the way you plan it but it all went my way today.

“I struggled on the greens today a little bit so it was all about my game from tee to green”. I play with a fade so I can use the wind to my advantage a little more than other people.

“I was really nervous coming down the stretch on the last five holes”, he said. “I was at a stage where I really needed to win and I did it, and that really helped me today, calmed me down when the pressure was on”. I didn’t make anything after the turn even though I was playing lovely. The top 15 players at season’s end earn a full card.

Meanwhile Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat beat Robert Karlsson by one hole in the final of the inaugural Paul Lawrie Matchplay in Aberdeen.

Ryan Fox couldn’t back up an imperious opening round at the second-tier European Tour event in Portugal, slipping eight places down the leaderboard into a tie for 11th.