Ilonen Looking for Wire-to-Wire Win in Irish Open


Mikko Ilonen shot a 2-under 69 Saturday to remain atop the leaderboard in the Irish Open. The European Tour event is taking place on the Deerpark Course at Fota Island Resort in County Cork.

The 34-year-old Finn carded four birdies and a pair of bogeys to get to 12-under 201, a stroke ahead of England's Danny Willett, who fired an 8-under 63 to rise into contention.

Ilonen, a three-time winner in Europe, recorded his final birdie on the par-5 18th to stay in the lead, a position he's held since the first round after opening with a 64.

Willett's 63 broke the two-day-old course record set on Thursday by Ilonen. Still, Ilonen is happy to continue setting the pace. "I decided to wear a green shirt today, and the fans were really pleased, but then I knew my course record wouldn't last long and I called that," Ilonen said of his homage to the Irish galleries.

"But I feel really comfortable out there, and really pleased to birdie 18, and get back the lead."

Two back is Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, who shot a 69, and three behind Ilonen are France's Romain Wattel (70), Sweden's Kristoffer Broberg (66), England's Matthew Baldwin (66) and Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti (65).

Willett's round was propelled by a hole-in-one on the par-3 seventh hole, his second competition ace of 2014. He also added six birdies. "It was a perfect number, wind out of the left with an 8-iron, kind of saying go in and not really quite sure, but it slam-dunked in the hole," explained the 26-year-old from Sheffield.

the crucible of the U.S. Open, which he played in last week at Pinehurst and tied for 28th. "It's been fun to come here this week after the pressures of last week's U.S. Open and just let off some steam and relax, and enjoy my golf again, and also enjoy the odd pint of Guinness in the evenings," said the 2010 U.S. Open champion.

The 34-year-old, who makes his home in Florida, would like to add an Irish Open to his career victories. "Winning the Irish Open is well up my leaderboard as far as wish lists of golf tournaments I would like to win," McDowell, said, "and to win would do many things like kick-start my season and boost my Ryder Cup chances."

Defending champion Paul Casey carded his second straight 69 and is now at 7-under 213, six shots behind Ilonen heading into Sunday's final round.

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014048/leaderboard/index.html.