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 an important 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.
