Thomson continues fine EuroPro form and McCarthy places fourth

It was Thomson’s fourth top-three finish in the last five events after he carded rounds of 66 70 68. But he slipped one place to seventh in the Race to Amendoeira as winner Min Kyu Kim, of Korea, climbed into fifth spot with his £10,000 cheque for first place. Sixteen-year-old Kim carded scores of 65 67 65 to win by two from Stiggy Hidgson (The Wisley).

Moortown’s Nick McCarthy (70 67 72) tied for fourth and climbed to 14th in the order of merit.

Huddersfield’s Nick Marsh missed the cut but remains in second place in the Race to Amendoeira. The top five at the end of the season will receive Challenge Tour cards.

Kim became the Tour’s youngest champion despite his scorecard being signed incorrectly, which meant the Korean was issued with a two-shot penalty.

The final day was marred by poor weather and saw lightning suspend play twice, at 12.15pm and 2.15pm, before eventually resuming at 4.30pm.

Kim, who resumed his round on the sixth, carding five birdies on the front nine.

However, coming home he had bogeys on the 13th and 14th to reduce his lead to four shots, but back-to-back birdies followed to reestablish his commanding lead before a double bogey on 18.

“I am so happy and really impressed with my win”: said Kim, who won £10,000 as well as a new Motocaddy S3 PRO electric trolley, Bushnell Pro X2 Range Finder and Bolle sunglasses.

“I focused on my game and that really helped me. I was nervous, but I tried to not let the pressure get to me.”