Holland's Robert-Jan Derksen fired a superb closing 67 to win the Madeira Island Open and win his second European Tour title.

Derksen had six birdies, including a decisive one from 15ft on the 18th, for a 13-under-par total of 275 at Santo da Serra.

Scotland's Gary Orr had a chance to force a play-off with a birdie on the last but left his chip from the front of the green woefully short and missed the par attempt.

That also cost Orr, without a win in five years, outright second as playing partner Andrew McLardy, of South Africa, holed from ten-foot for birdie moments later to finish 11 under.

Ireland's David Higgins was a stroke further back in fourth ahead of Birmingham's Tom Whitehouse, who finished seven under, on 280, and won £17,461. He was helped by holing a five-iron for a hole in one on the 15th.

Next, in sixth place on 281, was John Bickerton, of Droitwich Spa, who ended with a

72 and won £14,413. Other Midlandlers fared less well. Peter Baker, of Wolverhampton, totalled 288 after a finalround 69. Sam Walker ( Maxstoke Park) was on 293 and Robert Rock (Armitage), third last, on 301.

Derksen said: "This is what it's all about, I can't smile more than this. I really thought I could win today. I really felt confident. I thought 68 would be good enough and in the end I shot 67 and won by two so it was a good prediction."

Derksen won 'just' £68,000 for his victory in this jointsanctioned event between the main tour and Challenge Tour, compared to £200,000 for holding off world No 2 Ernie Els in Dubai.

Derksen began the day one off the lead but birdies at the second and third quickly moved him into a lead he would never relinquish.

Orr had three birdies in four holes from the 11th but Derksen responded with birdies on the 15th and 18th.

Orr won twice on the European Tour in 2000, holding off Colin Montgomerie to win the British Masters, but has since struggled and lost his card at the end of last season.

The 37-year-old, also troubled by a number of injuries, lost £10,000 with his bogey on the 18th.

* Welsh golfer Eleanor Pilgrim had her highest finish in three years on the European Tour, but said she was still disappointed at tying for third behind France's Ludivine Kreutz in the Tenerife Ladies'

Open at Costa Adeje yesterday.

Halfway leader Pilgrim closed with a 71 and finished on seven-under 281, four strokes behind Kreutz, who set another title trophy alongside the 2003 Italian Open.

After a promising rookie season in 2003, the Newport 28-year-old lost her card last season and had to return to the tour school. Claiming a much-needed £11,000 cheque, she said: "At least this takes some of the pressure off for the rest of the season."

Pilgrim actually drew level with Kreutz, who had led by two overnight, after a birdie at the fifth and eighth, and she had let slip an opportunity when she missed a twofoot birdie putt at the sixth.

But Kreutz came good on the back nine with birdies at the 13th, 15th and 18th in a fine finishing flourish to post an 11-under winning total for the £27,000 first prize.

England's Trish Johnson followed her third-round course record 65 with a 72 to tie for sixth on five under while Yorkshire's Georgina Simpson slipped with a finalround 74 to be joint eighth, four under.