Jean Hugo has won the inaugural Portugal Legends Championship by six shots after a scintillating bogey-free final-round 62 at Pinheirinho on the Alentejo coast.

It was the 50-year-old South African’s second win in his last three events, following victory at the Reignwood Legends Championship in Beijing in October.

With Hugo at -20,  Greg Owen finished second on -14 after a closing 65, with Johan Edfors a further shot back.

Andrew Marshall finished fourth at -12, one ahead of a group of players at -11 that included Cameron Clark, Robert Coles, Keith Horne and the overnight leader, Paul Lawrie, who slipped off the top spot with a closing level par 72.

Course record gets the job done

“I’m delighted to win again,” said Hugo after his course-record round of 10-under-par. “I was just trying to manage expectations, be patient and play my own game. I thought I did that quite well today, and at the end of the day that was good enough.

“I was hitting it well early on, and I had good chances on the first couple. I hit it close enough on three, so that was my first birdie. The pin on five was tucked, and I was really hitting it well. I had about three feet on five and about six feet on six.

“I had a bit of a lead at the turn, but going into the back nine there’s a lot of trouble out there, so it wasn’t enough. Then Johan started playing so well, and that put a lot of pressure on me. So I’m proud of the way I handled myself.

Speaking about the challenge presented by the Pinheirinho Comporta course, which officially opens to the public next year, he added: “When we got here on Tuesday, it didn’t feel like a 62 course. It was wide enough off the tee, which I like, so you can use your length, but the par threes have got so many options for pin positions that they can make it very tricky. All in all, I think it’s a nice, generous course, and I think people will love it.”

Hugo made his professional debut in 1999 at the Open Championship at Carnoustie. It was fitting, therefore, that one of his playing partners for the final round at Pinheirinho was the man who famously lifted the Claret Jug on that windswept day more than 25 years ago.

Third round leader Paul Lawrie couldn’t buy a putt on Sunday and dropped into a tie for fifth

Lawrie suffers poor day on the greens

But while Lawrie’s challenge faltered as his putter ran cold, it was Hugo who surged into the lead with five consecutive front-nine birdies. A stunning eagle at the 11th then gave him further breathing room before a superb finish enabled him to reach double-digits under par for the round.

For much of the day, Greg Owen was his nearest challenger. The Englishman, who started the day at seven-under, was quickly out of the blocks on Sunday with four birdies in his first seven holes to reach -11 and get within touching distance of Hugo.

Further birdies at 11 and 12 further reduced the arrears, but a costly bogey at 15 derailed his challenge and he was forced to settle for second-place despite a strong finish with birdies on 16 and 18.

Greg Owen moved into second place after a strong round on Sunday

Having won earlier this year at the Barbados Legends and enjoyed a number of top-10 finishes, Owen remains very much in contention for the Road to Cambodia Order of Merit that is still led by Stephen Gallacher, who finished T13.

“It’s been a great week overall,” said Owen. “The first two days I couldn’t miss with my driver, my irons were average, and I was holing putts. Anything I got close, I was making. Today I was horrific off the tee, but my wedge play was phenomenal. I didn’t hole anything long, so my wedges and my putting saved me today.

“I’ve enjoyed it here this week. There are some really good holes and it’s in great condition. It’s a phenomenal venue, we’ve been looked after really well, and I hope we keep coming back. It suits my game.”

Scott Drummond fired nine birdies on the bounce on Friday

Scott’s birdie streak counts for nothing

Scott Drummond, who leapt to the top of the first round leaderboard on Friday after first round 66 that included a world record equalling feat of nine consecutive birdies from the 6th to the 14th hole, was unable to maintain his hot form over the weekend, with the 52-year-old Englishman shooting back-to-back 74s to finish in a tie for 32nd in the 60-strong field.