Ricardo Santos became the first Portuguese-born player to win on home soil by capturing the Madeira Islands Open.
Championship record of 22 under par
Ricardo Santos became the first Portuguese-born player to win on home soil by capturing the Madeira Islands Open.
Santos shot a sensational final round 63 to win by four strokes and set a new championship record of 22 under par on the Santa da Serra course, ahead of Swede Magnus Carlsson (67).
Victory earns Santos, a former Challenge Tour graduate, a one-year European Tour exemption as well as entry to the upcoming PGA Championship at Wentworth.
After grabbing five birdies in the last seven holes, the 29-year-old world number 306 said: "It is very emotional and I haven't got the words to describe how I feel.
"To win my first European Tour event in my own country is very special. It was a sensational round, definitely the best of my career. It was amazing to have the crowds here supporting me and it would be difficult to imagine a better win than this.
"I didn't have many bad moments in the round, but the supporters were always there to pick me up and keep me going. This is a huge moment in my career."
Swede Magnus Carlsson was second and Dane Andreas Harto third, as Spaniard Carlos Del Moral, three clear at the start of the day, fell away to joint fourth with a 73.
Daniel Silva was Portugal's last champion on the circuit at the 1992 Jersey Open.
Jose-Filipe Lima, winner of the 2004 St Omer Open, is now Portuguese, but played under the French flag when he took that title.
