Staff WriterIf golf tournaments were Broadway plays, Andoni Etchenique just delivered the showstopper at the Vierumäki Finnish Challenge. The Frenchman birdied his last three holes in style, closing with a round of 66 that nudged him to 14-under and into a one-shot lead heading into Sunday’s finale at Vierumäki Resort.
Behind him lurks America’s Nick Carlson, who put on a fireworks display of his own with a blistering nine-under 63, and Scotland’s David Law, steady at 13-under. In other words, Etchenique may have centre stage for now, but the supporting cast isn’t planning on staying quiet.
A back nine to remember
Etchenique’s round wasn’t the picture of perfection early on. Two birdies and a bogey saw him trudge to the turn at one-under. Then, as if someone whispered “now would be a good time to start playing,” he rattled off five birdies on the home stretch, finishing like a man with somewhere better to be.
“I’m really proud of myself today,” Etchenique said. “I managed to stay patient, and the putts started to drop on the final few holes which was great. Over the first two rounds I played well on the front nine but today I struggled a little bit.
Luckily, I had a good back nine today. I had back-to-back birdies on 12 and 13 and then to finish with three more was very pleasing. I’m very happy about it.”
It wasn’t just nerves he had to fight, but the weather too. The wind whipped around the Finnish pines like it was auditioning for the Ryder Cup.
“It was very windy today and this morning the wind was blowing very hard on the first few holes,” he explained. “It was hard to get it close to the pins but the back nine it is a bit more sheltered from the wind so you can take advantage of some holes.”
First taste of the spotlight
For Etchenique, this is uncharted territory. The 27-year-old hasn’t exactly lit up the Road to Mallorca this season, but this week could be the jolt he needs to finally kick his campaign into gear.
“I’ve never been in this position on the HotelPlanner Tour, but I’ll try to do my best and hopefully I can keep the momentum going,” he said. “I’m going to stay patient and make a few putts and see where I end up.
I haven’t played that well so far this season and I know I need to have a good week to give myself a chance of getting into upcoming events. It’s great to have an opportunity tomorrow and I’m going to do my best.”
The chasing pack
Not far behind, three-time PGA TOUR winner Jonas Blixt sits two shots off the pace at 12-under, reminding everyone he’s not in Finland just to sample the salmon.
England’s Alfie Plant, India’s Saptak Talwar, German Anton Albers, and fellow Frenchman Oihan Guillamoundeguy are all tucked in at 11-under, a mere three back. In short: this leaderboard looks tighter than a new pair of golf shoes.
Sunday showdown
The final round of the Vierumäki Finnish Challenge tees off at 7:00 am local time, with Etchenique paired in the headline act alongside Law and Carlson at 11:12 am.
If Saturday was the dress rehearsal, Sunday promises a finish worth the ticket.
