Gary Lockerbie stepped up to the mark for the first time this season when he finished eighth in the Estoril Open de Portugal at the Penha Longa Golf Club, writes SAND WEDGE.

With a four round total of 277 and a final round of 68, the Penrith professional was back on the leader-board following a series of tournaments where he failed to make the cut.

With earnings this week of 22.000 euros, Gary will need to see his name again amongst the leaders to ensure that he retains his European playing card.

Presently placed 170th on the prize-winning list for this season, a good finish in Portugal will leave him optimistic that he is moving into his best form of the season and can now move up the ratings.

The potent combination of driving accuracy and a deadly putting stroke ensured Thomas Bjӧrn’s first European Tour victory in four years at the Estoril Open de Portugal.

A quick glance at the Genworth Financial Statistics compiled last week at Penha Longa points to the irrefutable fact that the Dane’s all-round game was too good for the rest of the field.

Bjӧrn was ranked in the top four across four Genworth categories in Portugal, with a Driving Accuracy of 80.4 per cent and a Greens in Regulation figure of 81.9 per cent allowing him to compile an average of 1.66 Putts per Greens in Regulation, which would average out as one birdie every third hole.

His average of 28 Putts per Round was bettered by only three players in the field and all of that added up to a comprehensive five shot win, and the first prize of €166,660.

Bjorn was 23 under par for his four rouns, winning by five shots from Australian Richard Green while fellow Dane Mark Haastrup was further two shots adrift in third.

Robert Rock (England) took fourth with 14 under par and as followed by Damien McGrne (Irland) -13; Darren Clarke (Ireland) -12 and Robert Coles (England) -12.

Lockerbie shared eighth on 11 under with Daniel Vancsik (Argentina) and Steve Webster (England).

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