IT WOULD be trite to describe Pedro Figueiredo's victory in the AIB-sponsored Irish Amateur Open Championship at Royal Dublin as a procession, but the 16-year-old displayed a striking maturity to match his obvious ability as he comfortably coped with the pressure to earn a deserved triumph.
The Portuguese golfer's second-round course record 67 on Saturday ensured he would lead the tournament going into yesterday's final 36 holes.
His demeanour suggested he was unflustered by the task, shooting a two-under-par 70 in the morning - including seven birdies - to lead by a couple of shots from Banbridge's Connor Doran.
The balmy weather, with nothing more than a zephyr to trouble club selection, meant the elements wouldn't assist the posse. And Figueiredo did nothing to encourage them either, especially early in the final 18 holes.
He calmly stroked in a three-foot par putt at the first hole, holed a downhill, eight-foot slider at the next for birdie, then struck another glorious iron shot approach to the third that came to rest 20 inches from the cup for another birdie.
Even when he found trouble at the fourth, courtesy of a pushed tee-shot and a slightly thin contact from a bunker, he demonstrated his prowess on the greens by holing from 15 feet for par.
Despite his tender years, Figueiredo, has already served notice of his ability, making two cuts on the European tour this season, finishing in tied 27th at the Madeira Open and tied 71st at the Portuguese Open.
A member of the European team at the 2006 Junior Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor - he won one of his two matches - he won the Portugal Amateur Open title in February and then retained the Portuguese Amateur Close Championship last month.
Hopes of a first Irish victory in the tournament since Noel Fox triumphed in 2003 gradually receded during the afternoon despite Doran's game performance. Starting the round four shots back after a morning 70, he had dropped a couple of shots by the sixth hole, which effectively ended his chances.
The imperious Portuguese teenager continued to forge ahead, shooting a brilliant 68 (-10) to win by seven shots in the end.
A bogey on the last saw Doran slip into a tie for second alongside Scotland's Keir McNichol and Billy Hemstock of England, with Royal Dublin's Niall Kearney a shot further back after a fine closing 70.
Doran was well aware of the pedigree of the golfer he was chasing, having played against him four years ago.
"It was on a (Irish) panel week at Villa Sol in Portugal," the Banbridge man smiled. "I was 21 and he was 12 years old and he beat me 3 and 2, which meant that the guys were calling me the Milky Bar Kid for the rest of the week. I don't think anyone would have beaten Pedro this week."
Figueiredo even managed to keep abreast of how his favourite team, Manchester United, were doing during his final round.
"I was on the course when I heard that Ronaldo had scored and that Man U had won the league. I am very happy with that because I am a big fan of football," he said.
"I have not met Ronaldo but he is one of the best footballers in the world and my ambition is to be one of the best golfers in the world. I am really delighted with this victory, to win a very big tournament. I'm very proud. Over the last three rounds I played very good golf."
Figueiredo hopes to attend college in the US before turning professional. On this evidence it's an ambition he's likely to realise.
