Ricardo Garcia, known to many as “Ricky,” recently lived out a true dream. He captured his very first professional title right at home. This happened at the 42nd Open Pro-Am, hosted by the Terceira Island Golf Club in the beautiful Azores. The win was a huge moment for Garcia, filled with emotion and personal triumph.
This wasn’t just any victory. The 42nd Open Pro-Am holds a special place in Portuguese golf. It is the longest-running tournament on the Timestamp Golf Tour, which is the national circuit for professional players. Both the Portuguese Golf Federation and PGA Portugal sanction this prestigious event.
The competition offered a hefty prize pool of 12,000 euros. This made it the season’s second-biggest payout, right behind the 20,000 euros given at the National Professional Championship. The stakes were high, and the pressure was on for all the competitors.
Garcia, who first learned to swing a club at this very club, delivered an unforgettable performance. Even though he lives on the mainland and plays for Oporto Golf Club in Espinho, his roots are on Terceira. He shot his best professional round ever, delighting his friends and family who watched him play. Garcia walked away with a winner’s check for 2,400 euros, part of the 12,000 euros shared among the 25 participants.
“Ricky” finished his final round with an incredible 64 strokes, an impressive 8 under Par. He managed this without a single bogey, a remarkable feat. This stellar finish catapulted him into first place. His total score for the tournament was 133 strokes, an impressive 11 under Par.
Heading into the final round, Garcia was in second place. He had a solid start with 69 strokes, 3 under Par, on the first day, recording only one bogey. Just one stroke ahead of him was Spain’s Thomas Artigas, who sat at 4 under Par. It looked like it would be a tight race to the finish.
However, the second day proved tough for Artigas. The player from Alicante, a former University of New Orleans standout in the USA, turned pro only at the end of last season. He couldn’t do better than 73 strokes, 1 over Par, on the final day. Two bogeys on the last two holes were costly. Artigas dropped to fourth place, finishing at 3 under Par, earning him 960 euros.
The second-place spot was shared by two other Portuguese players. Vasco Alves, also from Oporto Golf Club, shot rounds of 71 and 69. Francisco Costa Matos, an Azorean from São Miguel, carded two rounds of 70. Both finished with 140 strokes, 4 under Par, and each took home 1,380 euros.
Last year’s champion, Pedro Lencart, shared fifth place. He finished with rounds of 72 and 72. Another past winner of the event, Hugo Santos, joined him with scores of 77 and 67. Both ended at even Par (144 strokes) and each received 810 euros for their efforts.
The best amateur performance came from Paulo Barcelos, another local talent from Terceira. He finished in seventh place with 145 strokes, 1 over Par, after rounds of 71 and 74.
Garcia’s emotional words after the win truly captured the moment. “It’s a pride to win at home, with everyone who saw me grow up, since I started playing at 8 years old,” he shared. “In fact, I thank all the support they gave me today.” As an amateur, “Ricky” was previously the vice-champion of the FPG/BPI Cup, one of the FPG’s amateur “Majors.” He also won a national club championship while playing for Oporto Golf Club.
His final score of 11 under Par stands out in the tournament’s history. It is the best performance in this event since Tiago Cruz’s 13 under Par back in 2016.
Ricardo Garcia is now the fourth distinct winner on the 2025 Timestamp Golf Tour. Before his big win, Tomas Melo Gouveia won the Montebelo Golf Classic in Viseu. Daniel da Costa Rodrigues triumphed at the VI Solverde Players Championship in Espinho. Tomás Bessa shined at the National Professional Championship in Troia.
The next event on the national professional circuit, organized by the FPG and PGA Portugal, is the Lisbon Masters. It will take place at the Lisbon Sports Club in Sintra from October 23rd to 25th, offering 10,000 euros in prize money.