Golf || The last event of the 2014 Algarve Pro Golf Tour swing was played at a sun-soaked Boavista Golf and Resort just outside of Lagos.
What a first round it turned out to be with 11 players equalling or breaking par – but breaking par did in no way describe the leader James Maw’s first round.
Destroyed par would be a more accurate description as he blazed around Boavista in 9 under par carding a brilliant 62 and establishing a 4 shot lead over Tyler Hogarty and a 5 shot lead over Josh Carpenter and Marcus Armitage.
Local interest was provided by Tiago Cruz on 3 under par and Hugo Santos who carded a 2 under par round of 69.
Maw’s round was error-free and comprised 9 birdies and 9 pars in a superb exhibition of golf, but the race is by no means run and no lead is ever big enough as has been seen in recent years on the main tours of the world.
The second day started with showers but they soon cleared to leave a beautifully sunny day for the players.
Michael Downes was the first to show his intentions and put together a great round of 7 under par 64 to rocket up the leader board stake a claim for some of the prize fund.
Tiago Cruz knocked Downes off his perch adding a 4 under par 67 to his first round of 68 to finish the tournament on 7 under par.
The talented young German, Max Eichmeier, raised the bar again to 8 under par after carding a fine 5 under par 66 in the penultimate group.
However, James Maw was always able to handle the pressure of leading the tournament and put together a clinical round of 2 under par 69 to win by 3 shots although he let slip a couple of bogeys in the last few holes.
“The Algarve Pro Golf Tour would like to thank The PGA Portugal for their help in running the six tournaments in 2014 and look forward to their assistance in the nine events we will be running in 2015,” said a spokesperson for the Tour.
Congratulations to Harry Casey on winning the 2014 Order of Merit and with it a start in the Madeira Islands Open, courtesy of The PGA Portugal, and a free season competing on the Jamega Pro Golf Tour in 2015. Submitted by APGT
Caption: Winner James Maw giving it his best shot
