Publications
Partners
Muscat - Finland's Sami Valimaki won the Oman Open in a dramatic play-off on Sunday in just his sixth European Tour event, describing his performance as "awesome".
The 21-year-old edged experienced Brandon Stone of South Africa at the third extra hole.
"It's awesome," Valimaki, who claimed his card for this season after coming through qualifying school, told europeantour.com.
"There are not many words to say, it's unbelievable."
Stone had holed a 20-footer on the last to get to 13-under for the tournament but Valimaki then holed from a similar range to set up the playoff.
France's Adrien Saddier finished a shot further back with Italy's Guido Migliozzi and Mikko Korhonen of Finland, two off the pace.
Lorenzo Gagli, who had started the event in quarantine after a coronavirus scare before being given the all-clear, ended five shots off the lead.
Italian compatriot Edoardo Molinari, who was also kept in isolation, finished 11 behind the champion.
Leading and selected final round scores at the European Tour's Oman Open on Sunday (GBR/IRL unless stated):
275 - Brandon Stone (RSA) 67 71 67 70, Sami Valimaki (FIN) 74 67 64 70 (Valimaki wins play-off on 3rd hole)
276 - Adrien Saddier (FRA) 72 68 67 69
277 - Guido Migliozzi (ITA) 66 72 68 71, Mikko Korhonen (FIN) 73 67 65 72
279 - Alejandro Canizares (ESP) 70 69 72 68, Jordan Smith 70 70 67 72, Rasmus Hojgaard (DEN) 67 68 70 74, George Coetzee (RSA) 68 73 72 66
280 - Ross Fisher 68 75 70 67, Joost Luiten (NED) 69 69 67 75, Clement Sordet (FRA) 70 71 66 73, Martin Kaymer (GER) 73 69 67 71, Grant Forrest 70 73 69 68, Connor Syme 73 70 69 68, Antoine Rozner (FRA) 71 70 70 69, Lorenzo Gagli (ITA) 69 70 73 68
Selected:
281 - Li Haotong (CHN) 73 69 68 71
286 - Edoardo Molinari (ITA) 70 72 72 72
The Finn has done it! ??????@sami_valimaki is the #OmanOpen Champion in just his 6th ever European Tour appearance! pic.twitter.com/8FSpernYug
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 1, 2020
