Clark finds his touch in Madeira

Gary Clark enjoyed easily his best pay day as a pro

Hertfordshire golfer Gary Clark enjoyed the best week of his career as he came third at the Madeira Islands Open.

Just a fortnight before his 37th birthday, the Rickmansworth-based pro picked up a cheque for 43,820 euros at Santo da Serra.

Clark did his best work in Saturday's third round, when he shot nine birdies in a 64.

But he kept his head on the final day to fire a two-under 70, finishing four adrift of winner Alastair Forsyth.

The 36-year-old Challenge Tour member, who plays at Hertfordshire's once regular European Tour venue Moor Park, had a simple answer to Saturday's 64.

"You have to hit the ball close to the hole and hopefully get the putts in," he said.

"I put the ball in the right places and holed a few putts. That was the key. Also the weather was a lot easier today. We had the best side of the draw.

"My putter was quite hot as well and it just happened for me.

"This is an important tournament because it gives the guys with lower rankings the chance to do well."

Clark's previous best pay-cheque came at Wentworth in 2002 when he collected 26,000 euros for finishing just outside the top 30 at the Volvo PGA Championships.

But his only previous Top 10 finish came in Austria way back in 1996 at the Hohe Brucke Open at Waldviertel.