England’s Tom Lewis, who briefly led July’s British Open with the lowest ever score by an amateur, clinched a maiden European Tour title on Sunday with a two-shot victory at the Portugal Masters. The 20-year-old hit the headlines at Sandwich in England when his opening 65 gave him a share of the British Open lead. On Sunday, in just his third event as a professional, he converted that potential into silverware thanks to a final round 65 for a 21-under-par total.
“I wouldn’t have expected that at all,” said Lewis. “I was dreading Qualifying School at the end of the year but it looks like I’ve skipped that. I’m just really pleased with my performance.” Victory gave him a cheque for 416,660 euros ($577,895) and a place in the record books ahead even of Tiger Woods, who needed five tournaments to land his first professional title. “I’ve not thought about the money — I was thinking about winning,” said the new champion, who had an incredible 22 birdies and only one bogey in the last 52 holes and now has a two-year exemption from Qualifying School.
