Flying Finn Ilonen crowns great year with Volvo win

Golf: Mikko Ilonen hailed the best year of his career after becoming the first Finnish player to win the Volvo World Match Play Championship with a hard-fought victory over top seed and good friend Henrik Stenson.

Ilonen carded five birdies and no bogeys despite the windy conditions at The London Club to win 3&1 and secure the first prize of €650,000, almost double his previous biggest payday from winning the Irish Open in June.

Stenson, who had not led at any stage of his morning semi-final against George Coetzee before making a birdie on the 18th to win, claimed an early lead in the final with a birdie on the fourth.