Pedro Linhart resisted a powerful challenge from Europe’s Ryder Cup Captain Mark James to capture his first European Tour title, the Madeira Island Open, at Santo da Serra.
The 36-year-old Spaniard, the fifth first-time winner in 1999, birdied the 71st hole just as a play-off loomed and safely two-putted the last for a par and a winning 12-under par-total of 276.
Linhart’s closing 71, under extreme pressure from James, was a masterly effort as he clung on in the face of a thrilling charge from the man who will lead Europe’s team against the USA at Brookline Country Club in September.
James delivered a supremely composed five-under-par 67, but his 11-under-par total proved just insufficient to catch Linhart, who had led since a second round of 64 - the lowest score of the week.
After a titanic tussle, Linhart allowed himself to relax and sighed: "It was a struggle but I came through in the end. I was watching the leaderboard closely and I figured I needed one more birdie to win."
The final afternoon turned into a two-way battle for supremacy after Diego Borrego double bogeyed the first. Linhart had struck a glorious nine iron to three inches for a birdie and suddenly the pair, who set out on the last day with a solitary shot between them, were separated by four strokes.
James then stepped in with an outward 32, assisted by a birdie at the third where he played a recovery pitch from the brink of a ravine, to move from his overnight position of six under par to ten under.
Linhart, who had stumbled briefly but recovered well to birdie the ninth when his lead was threatened, turned at 11 under and was promptly joined there by James, who grabbed a birdie at the 11th.
A bogey at the 13th - his only dropped shot in two rounds - was a setback to James, but he chipped in at the 17th for a two to share the lead again. He two-putted the 18th from 40 feet - the second putt going in from six feet - and had to wait to hear of news from out on the course to discover if he faced his 10th play-off on the European Tour.
In the event, Linhart matched his rival’s two at the 17th with a seven iron to 20 feet and the tournament was effectively over. Linhart admitted: "I had a couple of chances to win in the past, so it’s a good feeling to have won at last. I always felt I could win but you don’t know until you have the trophy in your hand."
Linhart, born of American parents in Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, took Spanish citizenship in the Eighties. Consequently, Spain can enjoy consecutive triumphs on the European Tour following Miguel Angel Jiménez’s success in the Turespaña Masters - Open Andalucía two weeks ago.
The cheque for 81,660 euro lifted Linhart to 21st on the Volvo Order of Merit and James to 12th. However there was no change at the top with David Howell of England consolidating his position on 248,805 euro after finishing in third place.
Howell, who won the Dubai Desert Classic last month, closed with a 69 for a nine-under-par total of 279 and he said: "That was my best since Dubai. I was going along nicely until I duffed a chip at the 13th and dropped a shot. My chance went there as I knew I needed to get to 11 or 12 under."
James, who moved to 17th on the Ryder Cup points table, had to settle for second but said: "I’m pleased to have played well. Simple as that. My concentration has been very good although I didn’t putt that well really."
Borrego slipped back with a 75 to drop into a six-way tie for fourth with Padraig Harrington (71), Alberto Binaghi (71), John Bickerton (69), Retief Goosen (70) and Andrew Coltart (71).
It was another superb week for Challenge Tour graduate Bickerton, who has made nine cuts from nine starts in 1999, had five top ten finishes and currently lies third behind Howell and Ernie Els in the Volvo Order of Merit.
Thunderstorms and low cloud had hampered the tournament on Thursday, resulting in incomplete rounds on Thursday and Friday. When the rain-clouds finally cleared, Ross Drummond, Christopher Hanell, Howell and Van Phillips, emerged as the front runners at the end of round one.
However Linhart made his decisive move with that 64, eight under par, on Friday to force himself into the lead on 134. A third round 71 kept him out in front, but only just, from his Marbella neighbour Borrego, who carded a 68.
