Sami Välimäki
(Finnish Golf Photo)
PALMELA, Portugal (February 11, 2017) -- Sami Välimäki of Finland rallied to the title on the final day of the Portuguese International Amateur. Välimäki turned in a last day 4-under 68 at Montado Golf Resort to reach 7 under and finish two-strokes in front of runner-up and 54-hole leader Joshua McMahon of England.
For Välimäki the day started off with a disheartening double-bogey but on this day there would be no head hanging. Välimäki quickly responded with a birdie and after tallying three more birds from Nos. 6-9 he was able to turn in 2-under 34 and 5 under for the week.
On the backside Välimäki continued his run with three additional birdies and just one bogey.
Joshua McMahon, who led following the middle two rounds, could never get it going on Saturday. McMahon did birdie the second hole but that was one of his few highlights as he carded four bogeys and a double-bogey.
Italy's Luca Cianchetti was third at 4 under while England's Gian-Marco Petrozzi, Wales David Boote and Spain's Adria Arnaus shared fourth at 3 under.
ROUND THREE RECAP
After moving into the lead on day two Joshua McMahon of England was able to maintain his Portuguese International Amateur lead on day three. During the third round at Montado Golf Resort McMahon shot an even-par 72 and by remaining at 8 under he held onto his one shot lead.
It was an interesting third round for the the fifth place finisher at last years West of England Open Amateur. McMahon started his round with a bogey on No. 1 and then after seven straight pars he closed his opening nine with a ninth hole bogey to turn in 2 over 38.
Now on the home side McMahon started the nine with an eagle on the par-4 10th hole to return to even-par for the day, only to bogey the next two holes. Looking to right the ship once more, McMahon did just that with a 2 under finish. McMahon's final birdie came on the par-3 18th and it gave him the lead heading into the final round.
Morocco's Ayoub Id Omar is in second place at 7 under while Bailey Gill of England, Ireland's Tiarnan McLarnon and Adria Arnaus of Spain share third at 5 under.
ROUND TWO RECAP
Joshua McMahon of England is the new leader at the Portuguese International Amateur. With 36-holes in the books and still two rounds remaining McMahon is 8 under and one shot in front of Denmark's Marcus Hansen.
For McMahon his 5-under 67 second round at Montado Golf Resort was comprised of six birdies and one bogey. Starting on No. 10 McMahon parred his first three holes before birdieing four times between Nos. 13-18 to turn in 4-under 32. McMahon then went onto to shoot a 1-under 35 on the way home with 3rd and 5th hole birdies sandwiched around a 4th hole bogey.
Hansen moved into second place with a 4-under 68. During day two Hensen did most of his work in the middle of his round playing Nos. 5-13 in 5 under. For the round Hensen carded seven birdies and two bogeys.
First round co-leader Giacomo Fortini of Italy is third at 6 under, 18-hole co-leader Adria Arnaus of Spain is fourth at 5 under while five other players are sharing fifth at 4 under.
ROUND ONE RECAP
The day one lead of the Portuguese International Amateur belongs to Toby Briggs, Adria Arnaus and Giacomo Fortini following rounds of 4-under 68. All three players will begin the second round at Montado Golf Resort with a one-stroke advantage over four others.
England's Toby Briggs was even-par through his first six holes before finding a grove and rolling in four birdies down the stretch.
Arnaus of Spain started quickly with three birdies in the seven holes prior to falling back to 1 under during a 2 over stretch from Nos. 9-13. Looking to regain his form the former Texas A&M Aggie did just that with 14th, 15th and 17th hole birdies to reach 4 under.
The final member of the lead is Italy's Giacomo Fortini. Teeing off on No. 10 Fortini turned in even-par 36 but that number would soon change.
On the first hole Fortini rolled in a birdie to reach red figures for good thus setting the stage for a 4 under 32 side that saw Fortini birdie five times and bogey only once.
The circle on No. 1 was the start of a five birdie in seven hole run that eventually ended with an 8th hole bogey.
ABOUT THE
Portuguese International Amateur
72 hole stroke play championship. The 40 lowest
scores over the first 54 holes including ties shall
qualify for the 4th and final round.
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