An emotional Marcus Armitage claimed his maiden European Tour title at the Porsche European Open after a sensational final round at Green Eagle Golf Courses.
The 33-year-old from England made six birdies and an eagle to race to eight under for the day and nine under for the week.
At that stage Armitage was four shots clear but he bogeyed the 16th after a misjudged putt from over 100 feet and needed a remarkable chip to save par on the 17th following an overly cautious tee shot.
After completing his 65 Armitage was left to see whether any of the closing groups could reach his eight under total, with compatriot Matthew Southgate reaching seven under only to drive into the water on the 18th.
Armitage lost his mother to Jean to cancer as a teenager and was clearly emotional after becoming a European Tour champion.
“It hasn't really sunk in yet, it's a new feeling I suppose,” he said. “When I had a practice round the other day I've never lost so many balls in a practice round in my life. To be stood here being Porsche European Open champion is pretty cool.
“I'm an emotional guy, I'm struggling to keep a lid on it here. I was just trying to breathe and be calm, not touch my phone because that will be going berserk.
“But then you start thinking about everybody at home like my fiancée. 20 years ago I lost my mum and I've dreamt about this since that day, being a winner, and you have days where you think it might not happen but I just stuck at it.
“Today is a great day and I'm sure she would be proud, and everybody in my team that's helped me – this one's for me. All those days on my own dealing with life and I'm sure a lot of people do, all those lonely days on my own working on my dream and I think I've got to take a lot of credit for it myself.”
After starting the final round four adrift of leaders Southgate and Maverick Antcliff, Armitage swiftly made up ground with two birdies in his first three holes.
His approach to the seventh then span back into the cup for eagle and he almost repeated the trick on the ninth to leave a tap-in birdie.
A par save from 12 feet at the tenth was followed by a birdie from similar range on the 11th and he saw his effort from the fringe topple in on the 12th before another gain from ten feet at the 14th.
After a dropped shot on the 16th, Armitage found himself facing a chip from thick rough on the 17th, with almost no margin for error given the water behind the pin and the steep slope if he bailed out short.
After a superb shot to five feet and a clutch putt for par, Armitage completed a joint best of the week 65 before it was confirmed that he had secured a victory that moves him into the top 30 the Race to Dubai Presented by Rolex and earns him a spot at the U.S. Open Championship.
Southgate's closing bogey left him to share second on six under with Italy's Edoardo Molinari, Belgium's Thomas Detry and Dutchman Darius Van Driel.
