OSU's Martin makes European history with Estoril Open win  QUINTA DA MARINHA, Portugal -- Pablo Martin, a 20-year-old Spaniard and star at Oklahoma State University, made history Sunday by becoming the first amateur to win a European Tour event at the Estoril Open of Portugal.  College star Pablo Martin gladly accepted the trophy, but turned down the paycheck. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Martin had three birdies in his final-round 68 on the par-71 Oitavos Golf Club course to finish the tournament at 7-under 277, one stroke ahead of European Tour veteran Raphael Jacquelin (67). A native of Malaga, Spain, and the winner of the British Boys Championship at age 15, got his historic win in the circuit's 1,145th event. Jacquelin had six birdies and two bogeys and will receive the top prize money because of Martin's amateur status. David Griffiths (68) shared third with Graeme Storm (72), Martin Kaymer (67) and Charl Schwartzel (69) at 281. Defending champion Paul Broadhurst (74) double-bogeyed the 11th hole and had two birdies and three bogeys to finish in a tie for 54th at 5-over 289. Eight shots adrift midway through the third round, Martin followed his back-nine 29 on Saturday with a bogey-free closing round. "It feels great, absolutely great," he said before going off to celebrate the triumph with his family. Martin, who won the 2006 Jack Nicklaus Award as the top college player in the United States, will lead the amateur world rankings as a result of his victory. He announced immediately afterward 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 State. They've been giving me so many things and it does not enter my mind right now." And though he was unable to claim the first-prize check, he is certain to cash in down the road on a feat that even proved beyond Tiger Woods and Martin's fellow Spanish greats Seve Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia. The victory earns him a European Tour exemption until the end of 2009, but if he delays turning professional longer than two weeks he will only be able to accept five more invitations in Europe this year. Just five weeks after making the halfway cut at a PGA Tour event in Mexico, Martin took full advantage of the absence of Europe's leading lights, all away preparing for the 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 be surprised. He led the 2003 Spanish Open in Tenerife with 17 holes to play, but fell away then to 22nd place with a 74. "I think I have matured a little bit since then," he said. The last amateur to win a professional event in Europe was Ireland's David Sheehan at the 1962 Jeyes Tournament at Royal Dublin. But that came before the formation of the current European Tour. Phil Mickelson was the last player to do it on the PGA TOUR at the 1991 Tucson Open. Two behind with a round to go, Martin moved into a tie for the lead with a 10-foot birdie putt on the fourth and went ahead on his own when he chipped to four feet at the long seventh. With overnight pacesetters Alex Noren and Ross McGowan both falling away to 76s, Martin moved three clear with seven to play. But Jacquelin made it interesting by two-putting the 573-yard 16th for birdie and then chipping in from 30 feet for another at the last. That was the hole where two years ago Barry Lane, leading by one, crashed to a quintuple-bogey 9. But Martin found the fairway, hit his second to 25 feet and two-putted for the title. Copyright 2007 Associated Press and PA Sport. All rights reserved. |
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