Broadhurst keeps his title

Paul Broadhurst kept a cool head to retain his grip on the Portuguese Open trophy with a birdie at the 72nd hole.

The 40-year-old finished with a total of 271, 17 under par, one shot clear of Anthony Wall.

Broadhurst posted a 67 on the final day after finding trouble on the back nine.

He came to the final hole level with Wall after a bogey at the 17th, then pushed his second shot at the last into the rough at the side of the green.

But he played a superb pitch and rolled in a three-foot putt for a nerve-jangling victory.

Broadhurst said: “When I was standing on the 18th tee, I thought to myself that I would never have a better chance of winning a tournament.

“I got a decent lie for my approach and was confident of getting it to within six feet. I thought it had gone in.

“This was a big test for me today and I felt a bit under the cosh.”

Wall had a third successive 67, with Andres Romero of Argentina finishing third on 15 under.

Broadhurst stormed to the turn in 30 with five birdies to become the clear favourite.

He then chipped in from the side of the green at the 12th to go to 17 under for the tournament.

Broadhurst found the water at the short 13th and chalked up a double bogey - but he recovered at the next where he picked up a shot before digging in for victory.

Broadhurst said: “All day I was thinking to myself, just play, and don’t be concerned about leading the field.

“The wind was doing all sort of tricks but I didn’t really hit a bad shot until 13.”

An eagle at the fifth and a birdie at the next saw Wall gain some momentum.

Ranked 97th on the European Tour, he kept his nerve when the heat was on.

He chalked up birdies at three of the last four holes and watched anxiously as Broadhurst played the last.

It was not to be for Wall but finishing runner-up will do wonders for his confidence after he withdrew from his last tournament in Indonesia because of the searing humidity.

It was a disappointing day for Ireland's Peter Lawrie who fell back from contention to finish five under par, along with Gary Murphy.

Michael Hoey also had a disappointing day, finishing on two under.