Harley Smith, ranked No. 29 on the AmateurGolf.com World Rankings, turned a dominant week in Portugal into the latest chapter of a fast-rising amateur career, winning the 96th Portuguese International Amateur Championship by six shots at Amendoeira’s Faldo Course with rounds of 71-66-70-72 for a 9-under 279 total.
He didn’t need a closing burst to get it done; he built his lead early, stayed calm through the weekend, and walked away with a six-shot victory on the Faldo layout, keeping full control from his second-round 66 onward.
Born in Essex and raised in the England setup, Smith has long been seen as a standout talent, rising to European No. 1, winning both the McGregor and Carris trophies in the same year, and later adding the English Men’s Amateur Championship in 2024 plus a professional win on the Clutch Pro Tour at just 16.
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His 9-under total keeps the trophy in English hands after Eliot Baker lifted it last year and caps a busy 12 months that has taken Smith to 11 ranked events across six countries, highlighted by a T‑12 at the Jones Cup Invitational, a runner‑up at the European Nations Cup (Copa Sotogrande), and a T‑4 at the St Andrews Links Trophy among four top‑10s.
Behind him, Denmark’s Mads Heller and France’s Oscar Couilleau shared runner‑up honors at 3-under 285, each closing out solid but distant weeks. Heller shot 70-68-75-72, while Couilleau matched him with 67-70-76-72, underlining their status as two of Europe’s most promising young amateurs even on a week when Smith proved untouchable.
