Amateur Martin wins in Portugal

Twenty-year-old Spaniard Pablo Martin created history today when he became the first amateur to win on the European Tour.

The Malaga youngster went into the record books with a stunning performance in the Portuguese Open at Oitavos.

Eight shots adrift midway through the third round, Martin followed his back nine 29 with a bogey-free closing round of 68 to beat France's Raphael Jacquelin by one.

"It feels great - absolutely great," he said before going off to celebrate the triumph with his family.

The Oklahoma State University star - he has already won the Jack Nicklaus award as the top college player in the States and will lead the amateur world rankings as a result of this - announced immediately afterwards 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. They've been giving me so many things and it does not enter my mind right now."

He was unable to claim the £141,157 first prize, which went to Jacquelin instead, but whenever he makes the switch he is certain to cash in on a feat which even proved beyond Tiger Woods and Martin's fellow Spanish greats Seve Ballesteros, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia.

Just five weeks after making the halfway cut at a US 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.

Martin 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 Dr David Sheehan at the 1962 Jeyes Tournament at Royal Dublin. But that came before the formation of the Tour.

Joint third were English pair Graeme Storm and David Griffiths, South African Charl Schwartzel and German Martin Kaymer.

Peter Lawrie was the leading Irishman in the field, carding a closing round 69 to finish one under-par.  Paul McGinley (70) completed the tournament on two over while Gary Murphy was well off the pace on nine over after a disappointing final round 76.