Wallace tops Portugal in wire-to-wire victory

Final-round 69 gives Englishman 21-under finish.

Matt Wallace completed an unlikely wire-to-wire victory Sunday in the Open de Portugal in Portimao to earn a European Tour card.

The 27-year-old Englishman closed with a 4-under 69 for a three-stroke victory over American Julian Suri. Making only his fourth European Tour start, Wallace finished at 21-under 271 at Morgado.

Wallace won five straight tournaments and six overall last season on the Alps Tour to earn a spot on the European Tour’s developmental Challenge Tour.

“I didn’t see it coming. I never envisioned standing here,” Wallace said. “I just tried to go through my processes and work as hard as I could to be standing here today.”

He planned a simple celebration.

“I’ll have a few beers,” Wallace said.

He opened with rounds of 63, 66 and 73 to take a three-stroke lead into the final round.

“Those first two days were really easy, that third day was the hardest day of my life and today was tough, but it’s so satisfying,” Wallace said.

Suri shot a 65. France’s Matt Pavon (69) was third at 15 under.

Symetra Tour: France’s Celine Boutier beat Paola Moreno on the first extra hole in Greenwood, S.C., to win the Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women’s Health Classic for her first tour title.

Boutier birdied the par-5 18th in the playoff, and Moreno made a bogey.

“I’m just pretty relieved that the playoff is over. It was pretty stressful for me,” the 23-year-old former Duke player said. “I’m really proud of how I handled the pressure this week.”

Boutier closed with an even-par 72 to match Moreno at 10-under 278 at The Links at Stoney Point.

Boutier earned $30,000 to jump from 20th to second on the money list with $39,295 in six events in her rookie season. The final top 10 will earn LPGA Tour cards.

“I’m a little surprised it happened this early in the season, but I am super excited about it,” Boutier said. “I tried during the playoff not to think about the consequences and the big picture of a win. I just stuck to one shot at a time …”