Peter Lawrie signed for a 69 in the final round of the Portugal Masters to secure a share of sixth place on 15 under and his place as the leading Irish player at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course. But it was a day when many players around him were setting a very fast pace – including the winner Richard Green of Australia who carded 11 birdies – and Francesco Molinari of Italy who finished with a 62 courtesy of nine birdies and an eagle.
Richard Green came from seven shots back to win the Portugal Masters with a brilliant closing 65 to give the Australian left-hander his third European Tour title in his 311th starts to finished 18 under for the week.
But although he had set a respectable clubhouse target, it looked for much of the afternoon that Green was going to be beaten to the title by Spain's Pablo Martin.
Martin, the first amateur to win on The European Tour in 2007 and winner of the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa at the start of the 2010 Race to Dubai, was three clear overnight. He extended that advantage to four when he reached 20 under with a simple two-putt birdie at the par five fifth.
As Martin double bogeyed the seventh, and Green reached 20 under with 11 birdies in his first 15 holes. But then closed bogey-par-bogey, three-putting on the final green, and saw Martin edge past his clubhouse total when the Spaniard birdied the 12th.
But the 24 year old then bogeyed the 13th, 15th and 16th and despite birdieing the 17th his challenge ended when he drove into water at the 18th to lose his chance to claim the Portugal masters.
"I hit the ball good all week," said Green. "Today has probably been my best day with the putter I've had all week. I've averaged 31 putts for the round over the first three days and today they started to go in which was great.
"I've been playing well for a while now so I've been looking forward to these few weeks with the nice weather."
Tied second on 16 under were Dutchman Joost Luiten, Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño, Swede Robert Karlsson and Italy's Ryder Cup star Francesco Molinari - who incredibly was in the clubhouse before 2.30pm.
The contest looked a two-horse race as third place was occupied by Robert Karlsson and Francesco Molinari - both of whom were in the clubhouse at 16 under. Molinari had earlier carded his second 62 of the week but was left frustrated by rounds of 74 in his first and third rounds.
"It wasn't easy out there," he said. "It looked easy today, but I don't know, it's been such an up and down week that I don't know what to say. I mean, two 62's in one week is quite amazing, but if you shoot two 62’s in two days, you should probably win the tournament. 20 under for two rounds is quite something.
"I think I just need to rest because obviously the game is there, but probably the mind is not there all the time."
Damien McGrane finished on 9 under after a final round of 72.
Michael Hoey was one shot further back on eight under after a level par under of 72.
Shane Lowry signed for a 70 to finish 6 under along with Paul McGinley who ended with a round of 75.
