Roope Kakko
Encyclopedia
Roope Kakko is a Finnish
professional golfer
.
Kakko was born in Espoo
, Finland
. He started playing golf at the age of five.
In 2004, Kakko became only the third amateur to win a tournament on the Challenge Tour
, when he won his home event, the Volvo Finnish Open
. The win earned him a Tour card for the following season, and having turned professional later in 2004, he joined the Challenge Tour full time. He was a regular on the tour for the next five seasons, although he did not win again, with a best finish on the money list of 27th in 2008, when he was twice a runner-up. His strong 2008 season gained Kakko entry into a small number of European Tour events, and he capitalised on those opportunities by making successive top-10 finishes at the 2009 BMW Italian Open and 3 Irish Open. Despite these successes, his limited playing opportunities meant Kakko returned to the Challenge Tour full time in 2010, but at the end of that season he came through the Qualifying School
to secure full membership of the European Tour for the first time.
; they have one child. He is friends with American band Avenged Sevenfold
.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
.
Kakko was born in Espoo
Espoo
Espoo is the second largest city and municipality in Finland. The population of the city of Espoo is . It is part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area along with the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, and Kauniainen. Espoo shares its eastern border with Helsinki and Vantaa, while enclosing Kauniainen....
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. He started playing golf at the age of five.
In 2004, Kakko became only the third amateur to win a tournament on the Challenge Tour
Challenge Tour
The Challenge Tour is the second tier men's professional golf tour in Europe. It is operated by the PGA European Tour and as with on the main European Tour and the European Seniors Tour, some of the events are played outside of Europe...
, when he won his home event, the Volvo Finnish Open
Volvo Finnish Open
The Volvo Finnish Open was a golf tournament on the Challenge Tour from 1989 until 2004. It was played at Espoon Golfseura in Espoo, Finland. It was founded as the Scandinavian Tipo Trophy before being sponsored by Volvo from 1991.-Winners:...
. The win earned him a Tour card for the following season, and having turned professional later in 2004, he joined the Challenge Tour full time. He was a regular on the tour for the next five seasons, although he did not win again, with a best finish on the money list of 27th in 2008, when he was twice a runner-up. His strong 2008 season gained Kakko entry into a small number of European Tour events, and he capitalised on those opportunities by making successive top-10 finishes at the 2009 BMW Italian Open and 3 Irish Open. Despite these successes, his limited playing opportunities meant Kakko returned to the Challenge Tour full time in 2010, but at the end of that season he came through the Qualifying School
Qualifying school
In professional golf the term qualifying school is used for the annual qualifying tournaments for leading golf tours such as the U.S. based PGA and LPGA Tours and the European Tour. A fixed number of players in the event win membership of the tour for the following season, otherwise known as a...
to secure full membership of the European Tour for the first time.
Personal life
Kakko's fiancée is the LPGA Tour golfer Minea BlomqvistMinea Blomqvist
Minea "Minni" Blomqvist, is a professional golfer who plays mainly on the U.S. based LPGA Tour but is also a member of the Ladies European Tour.-Amateur career:...
; they have one child. He is friends with American band Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California. Formed in 1999, the group consists of vocalist M. Shadows, lead guitarist Synyster Gates, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ....
.
Challenge Tour wins (1)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning Score | Margin of Victory |
Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 Jul 2004 2004 Challenge Tour The 2004 Challenge Tour was a series of golf tournaments known as the Challenge Tour, the official development tour run by the PGA European Tour... |
Volvo Finnish Open Volvo Finnish Open The Volvo Finnish Open was a golf tournament on the Challenge Tour from 1989 until 2004. It was played at Espoon Golfseura in Espoo, Finland. It was founded as the Scandinavian Tipo Trophy before being sponsored by Volvo from 1991.-Winners:... (as an amateur) |
Playoff |  Phillip ArcherPhillip Archer Phillip Archer is an English professional golfer.Archer was born in Warrington. He is best known for shooting a score of 60 in the first round at the Celtic Manor Wales Open in 2006. He had a chance of being the first player on the European Tour to shoot a 59, but missed his birdie putt on the... ,  Johan AxgrenJohan Axgren Bengt Johan Axgren is a Swedish professional golfer.Axgren was born in Gothenburg. He turned professional in 1995.Axgren has won four times on the Challenge Tour, the first in 1996, and then once in 2004 and twice more in 2006, when he finished second on the end of season money list, to graduate... |