European Tour Portuguese Open:Spaniard Pablo Martin created history yesterday when he became the first amateur to win on the European Tour since its inception in 1972 - and in the circuit's 1,145th event.
The 20-year-old from Malaga, who won the British boys title when he was only 15, went into the record books with a stunning performance in the Portuguese Open at Oitavos.
Eight shots adrift midway through the third round, Martin followed his back nine 29 with a bogey-free closing round of 68 to beat France's Raphael Jacquelin by one.
"It feels great, absolutely great," Martin said before going off to celebrate the triumph with his family.
The Oklahoma State University star - he has already won the Jack Nicklaus award as the top college player in the States and will lead the amateur world rankings as a result of this - announced immediately afterwards that he will still not be turning professional until the summer.
"I've already thought about it," he said. "I've got to play with Oklahoma. They've been giving me so many things and it does not enter my mind right now."
He was unable to claim the €200,000 first prize, which went to Jacquelin instead, but whenever he makes the switch he is certain to cash in on a feat which even proved beyond Tiger Woods and Martin's fellow Spanish greats Seve Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia.
Victory earns him an exemption until the end of 2009, but if he delays switching longer than two weeks he will only be able to accept five more invitations in Europe this year.
Just five weeks after making the cut at a US Tour event in Mexico, Martin took full advantage of the absence of Europe's leading lights, all away preparing for the US Masters.
It was just his fifth start on the European circuit, but anyone who saw his second four years ago and has monitored his progress since will not have been surprised.
Martin led the 2003 Spanish Open in Tenerife with 17 holes to play, but fell away then to 22nd place with a 74.
The last amateur to win a professional event in Europe was Ireland's Dr David Sheehan at the 1962 Jeyes Tournament at Royal Dublin. But that came before the formation of the Tour.
Phil Mickelson was the last player to do it on the US Tour at the 1991 Tucson Open.
Best of the Irish was Peter Lawrie who charged home with four birdies in his back nine to finish in a tie for 11th on one under par. He collected €21,187 for his efforts.
Paul McGinley fired a third consecutive 70 to finish on two over, which earned him €11,875, while Gary Murphy crashed to a final-day, five-over-par 76 which included two double bogeys.
