Matt Oshrine joined the Challenge Tour winner’s circle with a one-stroke victory in the Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos.
The American held his nerve to post a two under par final round of 69 to reach 11 under par for the week, one shot ahead of Italian Stefano Mazzoli in second place at Royal Óbidos Spa & Golf Resort.
Oshrine began the final round one-shot behind Mazzoli, but carded three birdies alongside two bogeys on the front nine to draw level at the turn. He responded to a dropped shot at the tenth with two more gains at the 11th and 13th before carding five consecutive pars coming in to triumph by a single stroke.
The 29-year-old was delighted to seal his first victory on the Challenge Tour just a day after his birthday on Saturday.
“I’m thrilled to get it done,” he said. “Winning is hard out here. This is week nine in a row for me and I feel like I’ve been playing some good golf, I’ve just been waiting on the result a bit.
“It was a battle today. You have to hit some really quality golf shots on this course, especially down the stretch. I wasn’t sure walking down 18 what I needed at first.
“I wasn’t sure walking down 18 what I needed at first, but I knew regardless that birdie would be enough to win. I hit a great second shot, great chip, and two solid putts, and thankfully five was enough.
“I’m going to enjoy this. It was my birthday yesterday, so it was a good birthday present to myself.”
Oshrine, who gained entry into the event through an invite, climbs inside the top 50 on the Road to Mallorca Rankings following his triumph, and highlighted the importance of the win to secure his status on the Challenge Tour for the rest of the season.
“It was nice to perform when it mattered most,” he added. “This is one of my last invites, so I knew I needed a first or second place result.
“Now my status is assured and, with the points I’ve won today, I have the chance to achieve the true goal and get my card on the DP World Tour.”
Swede Niklas Lemke shared third place at nine under par with South African Deon Germishuys and Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen, one shot ahead of Czech Jiri Zuska, South African Robin Williams, Finn Oliver Lindell and England’s John Parry in sixth.
Denmark's Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen remains in pole position on the Road to Mallorca Rankings on 1,442 points, 263 points ahead of Parry in second, while Germishuys climbs into the top ten after his third place finish.
The Road to Mallorca now heads to Italy for the Italian Challenge Open at Argentario Golf Club, taking place from September 19-22, 2024.
