Mikko Ilonen goes wire-to-wire at Irish Open, home favourite McDowell gets sixth

Finland's Mikko Ilonen completed the wire-to-wire win at the Irish Open on Sunday, his fourth European Tour title, with a 13-under cumulative score.

Finland's Mikko Ilonen celebrates with the trophy for his victory at the Irish Open on Sunday. Mark Runnacles / Getty Images / June 22, 2014

Finland’s Mikko Ilonen claimed his fourth European Tour title with a wire-to-wire victory in the Irish Open at Fota Island on Sunday.

Ilonen carded a final round of 70 to finish 13-under, one shot ahead of Italy’s Edoardo Molinari, with Sweden’s Kristoffer Broberg and English duo Danny Willett and Matthew Baldwin another shot back in third.

Graeme McDowell had been hoping to claim a first professional victory in Ireland in front of the massive crowds in Cork, but struggled on the greens and had to settle for a closing 71 and a share of sixth with Magnus A Carlsson, his first top-10 finish in 13 appearances in the event.

Ilonen established a new course record of 64 in the opening round and although that only lasted until Willett, aided by a hole-in-one, shot 63 on Saturday, the 34-year-old Finn took a one-shot lead into the final round.

Birdies on the second and fourth took Ilonen three clear of the field until Willett carded his second birdie of the day on the ninth, but that was as close as anyone got until Ilonen dropped his only shot of the day on the last, ironically after hitting an iron off the tee for safety.

English teenager Matt Fitzpatrick, who was the only amateur to make the cut in the US Open last week, finished in a tie for 29th in his first tournament as a professional following a closing 68.

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