Helsinki, Finland – August 31, 2008  – Finland’s Minea Blomqvist claimed a one stroke

victory at the Finnair Masters, defeating her compatriot Ursula Wikstrom on home soil.

The Finnish pair, who began the last day tied for the lead with Italian Diana Luna, delighted the galleries with a mouthwatering final round battle at Helsinki Golf Club.

 

“It was very satisfying to see Minni win this tournament”, said Dieter Esch, the CEO for Wilhelmina Artist Management.  “When I watched her at the Women’s British Open recently, I knew that she would be the first of the W 7 players to win a tournament.  It shows that Wilhelmina chose the right group of athletes for the W 7.  These players are going to win a lot more tournaments in the future.”

 

Blomqvist edged Wikstrom with a final hole birdie for a round of six-under-par 65 and a 54 hole total of 11-under-par 202. Wikstrom, who also birdied the last hole, shot a five-under 65 to finish at ten under-par. Blomqvist’s victory was her second on the Ladies European Tour circuit and her first since winning the 2004 OTP Bank Central European Open in Hungary as a 19-year-old rookie.

 

“You can’t ask for more”, said the 23-year-old Finn. “Ursula and I played really well and it was a very good match which made it even more special.  When the match is great you enjoy it so much because you have to put all of your focus into it and just winning in front of your home crowd is something very special.”

 

Blomqvist birdied the third, fifth and ninth holes taking a two shot lead into the back nine, but Wikstrom drew within one shot after her birdie at the par-four 10th hole. When Wikstrom bogeyed the par-four 12th hole, Blomqvist sank a curling six foot birdie putt to move three shots ahead of her compatriot with six holes to play. Wikstrom responded with birdies at the 14th and 16th holes to pull to within just one stroke. Both players birdied the par-five 17th hole.

 

On the 18^th hole both players hit superb drives and then Wikstrom sank a brilliant 30 foot birdie putt to put the pressure on Blomqvist.  Showing her class, the Finn duly converted her 10 foot birdie chance to seal the victory and a first prize of 30,000 Euros.

 

The W⁷ is comprised of women with the game, the beauty and the personality to create a major presence in women’s sports, both on and off the course. The ladies chosen include Minea Blomqvist, who competes on both the LPGA Tour as well as the Ladies European Tour (LET), and was awarded the 2003 Rookie of the Year Award and has finished in the top 10 on the Order of Merit List twice as a member of the LET Tour.

 

The other members of the W7 include LPGA Tour newcomers Sandra Gal and Anna Grzebien,  eight-year veteran Johanna Head, as well as Stacy Prammanasudh, who owns two career victories and played on the 2007 U.S. Solheim Cup team.  Mikaela Parmlid and Kim Hall, who started strong on the LPGA Tour this season, are both fully exempt for 2008.

 

The W7—seven talented, attractive LPGA players brought together earlier this summer in an unprecedented marketing campaign by Wilhelmina Artist Management—was formed because Wilhelmina, the celebrity division of the fabled Wilhelmina Modeling Agency, believes there is limitless endorsement potential for grouping these seven players. The W7 personifies Wilhelmina’s mission to provide exceptional service to its talent, while encompassing the company’s goal and vision of bold and dramatic marketing, advertising and sponsorship prospects for Wilhelmina’s corporate clients.