Ricardo Gouveia seals inaugural Abu Dhabi Challenge crown with superb eagle on final hole

Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia won the inaugural Abu Dhabi Challenge in dramatic fashion on Sunday, by eagling the closing hole to seal a two-shot victory.

The 2015 Challenge Tour Rankings winner began the final day four shots back from 54-hole leader Tom Lewis, but posted a brilliant 6-under-par 66 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club to prevail.

Gouveia recorded his first eagle of a thrilling final round on the eighth hole before his grandstand finish included a birdie on 17 and that title-clinching eagle on the last.

On a Sunday in which five different players topped the leaderboard, Gouveia’s 19-under par was enough to capture the crown, with Lewis heading a four-man group in second place. Dubai resident Joshua Grenville-Wood, South African Wilco Nienaber and Ivan Cantero Gutierrez of Spain joined the two-time DP World Tour winner on 17-under.

Speaking after securing a sixth Challenge Tour title and first since August 2021, Gouveia said: “It was a crazy day. I didn’t feel like I brought my best game off the tee, but I managed myself really well.

“I knew the pins were going to be tucked away and my strategy was really good. I holed some nice putts and I’m so happy to finish on top.

“I tried to focus on finishing the round strong because, in golf, you never know what can happen. It was a special way to finish, and I’m delighted right now.”

The story of a dramatic final day in Abu Dhabi