SANYA, China, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Posting a one-under par 71 on Sunday at Sanya Luhuitou Golf Club, Finnish golfer Kalle Samooja claimed the title of the 2018 Hainan Open European Challenge Tour with a total score of 15-under par 273, this is also his maiden European Challenge Tour title.
"I feel amazing. That was a long trip, I was long prepared and it's my first time on this island, a very good thing is about the course, suited my game really well and I'm pretty happy to finish my week like this," said the Finn after the game.
Behind Kalle Sammoja is Scotland's Grant Forrest who scored 13-under par 275 after four rounds of games.
"Grant made really good birdies in hole seven and hole nine, I didn't know that he would get there, and after hole ten and eleven he was one behind. But suddenly he fell in the 12th, I kind of felt that might have been my chance, he lost a little bit momentum and I knew if I just keep making pars, that should be enough," said Samooja.
The 30-year-old said he was very pleased with the result although this is a long hard season in his eyes. "I've been hunting for the trophy for a long time, that's basically what got me there, I've been close a couple of times, and it's always tough to beat all the guys and everybody's hunting you, especially holding the lead the last three days, it's not easy and mentally it's also pretty tough. A little bit tired now, but I'm moving on for the next week."
"I'm gonna be in China for the next week, in Foshan, hope I can get another trophy there," Samooja said.
Concluded here on Sunday in the southern China's costal city of Sanya, the 2018 Hainan Open European Challenge Tour attracted 126 players from 32 countries and regions to compete for a total prize of about 350,000 U.S. dollars.
