Golf: Madeira win is icing on cake for Borrego

Spain’s Diego Borrego today held his nerve to capture his second European Tour title with a tense victory in the Madeira Island Open.

Borrego overcame strong winds at Santo da Serra to card a final round 69 for a seven-under-par total of 281, and a one-shot victory over compatriot Ivo Giner.

Giner missed a four-foot par putt on the last hole to force a play-off and had to settle for a share of second place with Holland’s Maarten Lafeber.

England’s Roger Winchester claimed fourth place a shot further back after firing a superb 67, the best round of the day.

‘‘It feels great to win especially after a long hard year last year,’’ said Borrego, who earns £56,800 (€92,325) and a two-year tour exemption.

‘‘My plan was to hit fairways and greens and two-putt all day but then I started with three putts on the first.

‘‘But it was a long day, very windy, and I knew I still had a chance to win the tournament when I saw the leaderboard on the 15th.’’

The 15th produced Borrego’s fourth birdie of the day and proved the decisive moment, Giner matching his fellow Spaniard’s birdie on that hole but failing to par the last to miss out on a play-off.

Borrego’s only previous tournament victory came in the Turespana Masters in 1996, when the tournament director this week, Jose Maria Zamora, was a tournament referee.

And Zamora also partnered the 17-year-old Borrego to the Spanish doubles title in 1989.

‘‘I wish I could take him with me every week,’’ joked Borrego, who was in danger of losing his tour card last season before finishing third in the penultimate event.

Giner, along with Borrego one of 21 players forced to complete their third round on Sunday morning after fog brought an early end to play on Saturday evening, said: ‘‘I am pleased but it is a shame when you are co-leading a tournament playing the last hole, hit a driver in the middle of the fairway and you cannot make a par.

‘‘It really hurts. I was thinking an eight-iron might be too much and just stopped the swing on the way down. I hit a good chip to four feet but just missed it.

‘‘But this result gives me confidence after a bad year last year.’’

Lafeber could also have forced a play-off but was unable to birdie the last and added: ‘‘It’s very, very disappointing. I gave it away myself.

‘‘I gave myself good chances but making three three-putts in four holes you cannot win a tournament.

‘‘I also thought the leaders were eight or nine-under and I didn’t have a chance and then found out on the 18th that seven-under was leading. I didn’t have a clue what was going on.

‘‘I’m really disappointed but if you had offered me second at the start of the week I would have taken it.’’

Winchester was delighted to finish fourth in his first tournament of the year, especially after losing his card last season and having to make a seventh trip to the qualifying school.

‘‘I hope this is the start of a new career for me because I didn’t like the other one much!,’’ joked the 34-year-old former English amateur champion from Exeter.