It was a case of lucky 13 for Frenchman Jeff Remesy and some decisive bad luck on the 17th for Scotland's Andrew Coltart in the climax of the £400,000 tournament in Portugal.
Remesy claimed his first European Tour victory and the winner's cheque for £66,657, after 13 years of trying, with a final round 68 for a two-under-par total of 286 and a two-shot margin over Coltart, England's David Carter and Italy's Massimo Florioli.
It was a fine effort from the 34-year-old from Cannes who almost quit the game last year after 12 consecutive visits to the qualifying school since turning professional in 1987.
Best of the Irish was Des Smyth, who shot a fine closing 68 to finish on 292, one shot ahead of Paul McGinley, who faded over the weekend with two rounds of 74.
Philip Walton (77) and Eamon Darcy (78) were left propping up the field.
Coltart was left regretting a bad break on the par three 17th which cost him a chance of victory when tied with playing partner Remesy at the head of the field.
The 28-year-old from Dumfries found a bad lie in the greenside bunker on the short hole and was forced to play his recovery with both feet outside the trap.
A lack of sand under the ball doubled the difficulty of the shot and his effort flew over the green into heavy rough to cost him a double bogey and any chance of a victory to add to his triumph in the Qatar Masters last year.
Remesy also dropped a shot on the 17th but holed an eight-foot putt for birdie on the last to give him the title.
A massively disappointed Coltart said: "I played lovely but it's frightening to think it comes down to something like that. I was only 15 feet from the flag."
Coltart was lucky to be in contention at all after a first round 77 and while struggling to overcome a shoulder injury that required a 10-day course of antibiotics.
Remesy's total, which made him the sixth first-time winner this year, was the highest on tour this year by three shots but that was the furthest thing from his mind as he collected the first prize and with it a priceless two-year exemption.
"I've now got three years to plan my career," said Remesy, who won the French PGA championship last week in a play-off.
"I can play the tournaments I want from now on, everything's going to change. It's given me a lot of confidence.
"When I missed out at the tour school I was very disappointed. After missing out again I seriously thought about giving up.
"I didn't play until February but eventually decided I wanted to play. I worked with a sports psychologist over the winter and have been feeling better in my mind. I've started to believe in myself.
"It's about thinking differently. I think to myself, `You can play. Focus on the pin, don't see the bunker or the water. If you take a double bogey, keep cool,' and that's what I did."
The best round of the day and the week belonged to Carter who fired a flawless 67 containing three birdies and an eagle at the sixth that capped a fine comeback after a hugely disappointing third round 79.
"How I shot three good rounds and then a 79 I don't know," said the 26-year-old who won the World Cup last year with Nick Faldo.
"But I've learnt from it. You don't learn from 65s, you learn from shooting bad scores. You've got to burn your fingers to learn.
"I should have just hung back. I knew I wasn't holing any putts but just kept trying to make a charge."
