Vainio Wins Thrilling Sula Open After Three-Way Playoff

The picturesque Vasset DiscGolfPark in Langevåg, Norway, played host to the highly anticipated Sula Open, the fourth EuroTour event of the season. As the tournament drew to a close, all eyes were on Norwegian Knut Håland, who had taken a three-stroke lead into the final round. However, Finn Juhani Vainio, Øyvind Jarnes (Norway), and Silver Lätt (Estonia) would have other plans.

The trio of golfers produced impressive rounds, all finishing with 18-under par 174 scores to force a three-way playoff for the title. Vainio's consistency proved decisive as he claimed victory after just one extra hole against his higher-rated competitors.

Håland's bid for victory was derailed by a series of dramatic events in the final round. He had been in control until Jarnes, Lätt, and Vainio all overtook him with pars on the back nine. A thrilling conclusion saw Håland tied with Jarnes and Vainio after 18 holes, but it was Vainio who emerged victorious.

"I didn't plan anything special for the final round," said Jarnes, "but I wanted to play more aggressively." Lätt also made adjustments, opting for a speed seven Explorer on hole 11 instead of his distance driver. This change in strategy paid off as he carded a 9-under par 55 final round.

Vainio's decision to stay consistent with his game plan proved effective, as he matched his second-round score of 7-under par 57. In contrast, Håland was unable to capitalize on his early lead, ultimately finishing in fourth place.

The Open Women's division saw Kristin Tattar extend her undefeated streak in the Sula Open by an impressive margin. She turned a lead of 11 strokes into 27 and remained unbeaten in 2019. Anneli Tõugjas (Estonia) took second place, while Hannele Määttä (Finland) secured third.

Tattar's performance was nothing short of remarkable, as she averaged 970-rated golf throughout the tournament. When asked about her success, she emphasized the importance of confidence in her game. "If I feel good about what I do on the course, then it doesn't even matter where I place in a tournament," she said.

Tattar's next challenge will come at Tyyni in Finland, where she is set to face off against other top competitors in the Open Women's division.

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/underdog-vainio-wins-three-way-sula-open-playoff