ARGENTINA’S ESTANISLAO Goya survived a late scare and an amazing birdie burst by Scot Callum Macaulay to win a European Tour title at just the sixth attempt yesterday with Ireland’s Damien McGrane sharing third place.

The 20-year-old from Cordoba, a graduate from last season’s Challenge Tour, won the Madeira Islands Open BPI-Portugal in Porto Santo by one with a closing 73 and six-under-par total of 278.

Macaulay, himself playing only his fifth event on the circuit and ranked 1,009th in the world, incredibly birdied the last six holes and eight of the last nine for an inward 28 that was just one outside the Tour record.

While equalling the course record with a 64 the 25-year-old, last year’s Scottish champion and part of the three-man side which won the world amateur team title in Australia in October, thought he had left his blistering run too late to seriously trouble Goya.

However, the South American then double-bogeyed the 492-yard par four 16th and suddenly found himself needing to par the final two holes to grab the first prize of €116,660 plus the two-year Tour exemption which comes with it.

Goya held his nerve and managed it, leaving Macaulay – incredibly 11 strokes back with nine to play – to take the €77,770 runners-up cheque.

McGrane and Dutchman Wil Besseling shared third place on four under, McGrane leaving himself with too much to do after double-bogeying the short 13th despite birdies at the 15th and 18th.

“The course was very demanding. I stayed patient and did the best I could, but he was a worthy winner,” said McGrane.

Goya’s late double came when he went out of bounds on the 16th and after a drive into rough down the 603-yard last it required a seven-foot putt for him to lift the trophy.

“I felt a lot of pressure and was very nervous,” he said. “But this is an experience you have to go through. I’m so happy. My dream is to be one of the best players in the world and this is one of the steps you have to make.

“But I never thought it would happen so quick.” Macaulay, who came through all three stages of the qualifying school at the end of last year, stated: “I’m just delighted – absolutely ecstatic.

“I knew I had to come out all guns blazing, but I’ve never had a run of birdies like that before and I’m kind of speechless.”

Michael Hoey finished sixth on two under, while last of the Irish Michael McGeady ended seven over to share 23rd place on 291.