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Ricardo Garcia achieved a career milestone by winning his first professional title on home soil at the 42nd Terceira Island Open Pro-Am, held at the Clube de Golfe da Ilha Terceira in the Azores. The emotional victory came in front of family and friends and marked a decisive moment in Portugal’s national golf circuit.

The Terceira Island Open Pro-Am is the oldest event on the Timestamp Golf Tour, sanctioned by both the Portuguese Golf Federation (FPG) and the PGA Portugal. The tournament offered €12,000 in prize money, the second-highest purse of the season, following only the €20,000 awarded at the National Professional Championship.

Representing the Oporto Golf Club, Garcia produced the best round of his professional career with a stunning 64 (–8) in the final round, finishing on 133 (–11) to secure victory and a €2,400 prize. His performance was flawless, with no bogeys over the closing 18 holes, earning him the title and applause from his local supporters.

Garcia, who turned professional exactly a year ago at the same event, started the final day in second place after an opening 69 (–3), one shot behind Spain’s Thomas Artigas (–4). However, Artigas struggled on the second day with a 73 (+1), including two costly bogeys on the final holes, and slipped to fourth place at –3, earning €960.

The runner-up position was shared by Vasco Alves and Francisco Costa Matos, who both finished at 140 (–4) and took home €1,380 each. Defending champion Pedro Lencart and former winner Hugo Santos tied for fifth on 144 (Par), earning €810 each.

Among the amateurs, Paulo Barcelos from Terceira was the standout performer, finishing seventh with a 145 (+1) total.

“Winning at home, surrounded by the people who saw me grow up since I started playing at eight years old, is something truly special,” said Garcia, who as an amateur was runner-up in the FPG/BPI Cup and a national club champion with Oporto Golf Club.

His –11 finish was the best in the tournament since Tiago Cruz’s –13 victory in 2016. Garcia also became the fourth different winner on the 2025 Timestamp Golf Tour, joining Tomas Melo Gouveia (Montebelo Golf Classic), Daniel da Costa Rodrigues (Solverde Players Championship), and Tomás Bessa (National Professional Championship).

The next event on the Portuguese professional circuit will be the Lisbon Masters, held at Lisbon Sports Club (Sintra) from 23 to 25 October, with €10,000 in prize money on offer.

Tomás Ribeiro delivered a standout performance for Portugal, winning the Italy Open Pitch & Putt at the Florinas Golf course in Sardinia. The national team achieved an excellent overall result, with Hugo Espírito Santo and Arnaldo Paredes both finishing inside the top five.

The event brought together 71 players competing across three rounds of 18 holes on one of the toughest courses in the circuit. After posting scores of 53 (-1) and 56 (+2) on Saturday, Ribeiro began the final round tied for second with Spain’s Cesar Crespo, three strokes behind home favourite Giacomo Meloni.

In what he described as the most difficult course he has ever played, the 23-year-old Portuguese international from Paredes Golf Club held his nerve on Sunday with another 56, clinching victory by a single shot. His total of 165 (+3) edged out Crespo, who finished on 166 (+4).

“I’m very happy. It was the first time I won an individual event while representing the national team, and it feels even more special to share this moment with all the Portuguese players who were here,” Ribeiro said after the win. The victory also came on the eve of his 23rd birthday, adding a personal touch to a memorable weekend.

Ribeiro had already been runner-up in last year’s edition of the Italy Open, won by Italy’s Andrea Fusco. Earlier this season, he claimed the Portugal Open Pitch & Putt and helped Paredes Golf Club secure the national club championship just a week before this latest triumph.

In Sardinia, Hugo Espírito Santo from Quinta das Lágrimas finished third after a superb closing round of 52, the lowest score recorded in the entire tournament, for a total of 168 (+6). Giacomo Meloni slipped to fourth with 169 (+7), and Arnaldo Paredes, also from Quinta das Lágrimas, secured fifth place with 171 (+9).

This outstanding performance once again underlines Portugal’s growing strength in international Pitch & Putt golf, both individually and as a team.

The VIRIATVS Golf Cup took place at Montebelo Golf, under the direction of Bruno Esteves, and was played in a texas scramble format. The 2025 edition featured 40 teams of two players, bringing competitive energy and a festive atmosphere to the course. Weather conditions held steady throughout the day, with only light showers arriving at the very end of play.

In the Net division, the pair Nuno Marques and Gonçalo Andrade secured first place with 45 points. Elisabeth Noble and Gay Adamsom shared the runner-up position with Bruno Melo and Carlos Tinoco, both finishing on 44 points. Other strong scores included Alberto Amaral and José Gonçalves, Carlos Alves and Leonel Seixas, and Esmeraldo Bento and Álvaro Tavares, all with 43. Just behind on 42 points were Agostinho Lopes and Jacinto Pinto, Paulo Domingues and Manuela Domingues, and Jaime Fernandes and Paulo Neves.

The Gross competition was won by Bruno Melo and Carlos Tinoco with 34 points. They were followed by Nuno Marques and Gonçalo Andrade in second, and José Santos and Carlos Miranda in third.

Adding extra prestige to the event, professional golfer Daniel Rodrigues, currently Portugal’s top-ranked player and standout at the recent Open de Portugal, took part in the tournament alongside his brother. Rodrigues also addressed participants, offering words of encouragement for the sport.

The day concluded with a post-tournament reception, an excellent buffet, and a generous prize draw, rounding off the VIRIATVS Golf Cup in memorable fashion.