Londoner lands first big title at Morgado Golf Resort to walk away with 83,330 Euros
Sunday 14 May 2017 18:17, UK
England's Matt Wallace led from start to finish at the Open de Portugal with a closing 69 proving good enough to claim his maiden European Tour title.
Wallace, who carded 10 birdies in a flawless opening 63, enjoyed a five-shot advantage at halfway after completing an error-free 66 when the delayed second round was completed on Saturday.
The 27-year-old Londoner could only manage a level-par 73 in round three to finish 17 under par, three shots ahead of Germany's Sebastian Heisele.
And despite seeing his advantage reduced to one by first Heisele, who finished 28th on the Challenge Tour last season, and then American Julian Suri, Wallace found birdies at crucial times to close with a 69 and 19 under-par total at Morgado Golf Resort.
"It's the best feeling ever," he told the official European Tour website. "It's always been a dream to win on the European Tour.
"Those first two days were really easy, that third day was the hardest day of my life and today was tough but it's so satisfying and I'm really happy."
Wallace, who won five tournaments in succession on the Alps Tour last year and six times in total, finished three shots clear of Suri, who rattled in nine birdies in his first 15 holes before dropped putts in the home straight cost him dear.
France's Matthieu Pavon was third on 16 under, with Heisele and England's Sam Walker a shot further back in fourth.
