FPO

Is it possible to keep out of your mind the fact that you are leading an international tournament on the last day with an 8-stroke gap over your pursuers?

It seems that Silva Saarinen took her foot off the accelerator – or things just didn't go as expected – in this third round of the PDGA Euro Tour Swedish Open presented by Kastaplast.

With a plus-3 on hole 4, the most adventurous were looking at the possible reaction of the second classified, Norway's Anniken Steen, but the birdies did not arrive until the 17th hole, and she had to settle for the final fourth position and will try to improve it in his next appointment on the calendar, the PCS Open in her home country, which this year, in addition to the PDGA Euro Tour, falls within the DGPT Elite Events.

Sofie Björlycke had a nice fight with Lykke Lorentzen throughout the round, having a 3-shot margin for the final two holes, which continued to prove decisive, with the Norwegian being able to tie with her in second position at the last moment.

However, Saarinen had the situation under control at all times, and with a final 8 under par, she managed to take the winning trophy – and the 30,000 Kr or €2,500 prize.

It will be interesting to see her compete in the coming months with Tattar, Pierce, Allen, Blomroos or Salonen when she will have to maintain the maximum competitive tension for the whole three or four days. Exciting stuff coming!

MPO

Have you ever been lucky enough to see the six-time World Champion in "McBeastmode"? It doesn't always happen, but when it does, it's an unforgettable experience! On Saturday, we predicted a history-making battle, and it happened!

More than 1,000 people, perfectly controlled by the organization, walked to see the action of the lead card, who played at a great level, achieving 5 starframes in the 18 holes!

The Finn Niklas Anttila lost his three-stroke lead after breaking the Mando on hole 2, and the American got into "the zone" to be two strokes ahead after the first third of the round. As he stated in the post-round interview, he found that "groove" and the excitement of competing for an important victory.

Niklas Anttila

The middle part was very evenly matched, and the key moment occurred on the 15th hole, where McBeth repeated the same mistake from yesterday that sent him OB. Niklas has the opportunity for a far "death putt" with OB behind the basket to attempt a two stroke swing. The wind picks up, but he decides to try, misses... and the disc is less than a meter away from OB with a difficult comebacker. The excitement is palpable in the atmosphere, and he puts it in to tie the game with three holes to go!

Also on the lead card, Bradley Williams achieved a -8 with a very solid game to gain the third final position—the second podium in two participations outside the United States — and left moments of high quality that, undoubtedly, you will find in the "highlights" videos.

The rest of the candidates for victory were, little by little, out of contention in a kind of "elimination race". The first was the local Dennis Augustsson, although he was able to recover from two bogeys and a double bogey in just four holes to finish fourth, tied with another American, Clay Edwards (Kastaplast), whom we will see soon in the follow-up of the chase card made by Gatekeeper Media. Joona Jeinänen was tied for second place at the halfway point of the round, but a quadruple bogey on the 16th hole took him out of the top spots.

And back to the fight for the trophy—and the 50,000 Kr or 4,200€ first prize. Both Niklas Anttila and Paul McBeth do not hesitate to play on the attack and make birdies on 16 and 17, so the 18th will again be the judge of the tournament.

Anttila declared that he only played the hole three times and did not have an exact idea of the position ofthe right OB. His throw is just as he intended but misses OB by just a few centimeters. Paul ends up on the left side, but without penalty. The Finn's second shot takes a slight turn and ends up beyond C2, which will lead to a bogey if he doesn't make a spectacular throw-in.

McBeth's approach from the rough is very good and leaves an uphill C2 putt and, above all, the fact of throwing after Anttila who tries a forehand shot that parks the disc and condemns him to bogey. The American just has to make a lay-up to get the par and the victory. He prepares, throws... and converts an incredible putt to get the birdie, the victory, and two strokes of final difference! As he would declare to Nate Perkins in DGN he wasn't going for the putt, but the strong wind lifted the disc and he putted it in! A hit in the basket and a roll could have changed everything, but even the great champions need a little luck sometimes...

With that final 11-under, Paul McBeth takes with him an injection of morale, the affection of the crowd of this PDGA Euro Tour Swedish Open presented by Kastaplast (more than 100m of queue at the signing session on Saturday), and, above all, the satisfaction of having shone with Niklas Anttila in a duel of those that are remembered after years!