Chris Wood secured his first professional victory in nearly a decade at the Rolear Algarve Classic.
The 38-year-old former Ryder Cup player and three-time DP World Tour winner began the final day in Portugal with a one-shot lead and finished the 54-hole tournament at 16-under-par to hold off Scotland’s Aidan O’Hagan, whose matching 67 saw him finish alone in second place at 15-under.
The victory caps a significant period in Wood’s resurgence after a difficult spell away from competitive golf due to mental health issues. “I’m gutted that I bogeyed the 17th – that was my only bogey all week. But to finish my season with a win is amazing.
“I’ve got some work that I want to get into over the winter and have a little break, but come out ready for the first couple in Egypt.”
Germany’s Max Schmitt produced the round of the day with a course-record, bogey-free nine-under 63 to surge into third place at 13-under-par.
Czech Republic’s Dominik Pavoucek, Scotland’s Sebastian Sandin and Italy’s Marco Florioli shared fourth place at 10-under-par.
Ireland’s Tyler Hogarty and Portugal’s Pedro Figueiredo both posted impressive final rounds of 65 to finish in a share of seventh at eight-under, alongside English pair David Hague and Toby Hunt, Portugal’s Pedro Lencart and Ireland’s Max Kennedy.
The UAE’s Ahmad Skaik, who was making his second professional start, battled through injury and carded an even-par 72 in the final round, finishing the tournament at four-over-par to collect prize money in just his second event as a professional.
“My body was feeling better today after the massage, and I was hitting the ball better, which meant I gave myself more chances for birdies,” said Skaik.
“It feels good to get a paycheque for the first time and hopefully the first of many. If you had told me at the beginning of the week that I’d make the cut and possibly shoot a low round in the third round, I would not have believed it because I was not moving well, I was in so much pain and couldn’t swing the club.”
Wood’s victory earns him $18,000 from the $100,000 prize fund.
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