Venezuelan amateur Virgilio Paz came from four shots behind in the final round to win the 2026 Gosling’s Bermuda Open at Port Royal Golf Course on Saturday, September 12, firing a bogey-free, eight-under-par 63 to finish at 15-under par, one stroke clear of the field.
The 21-year-old began the day tied for second at seven-under, four behind American professional Nathan Petronzio, who had built his lead with a bogey-free 64 in the second round. Paz closed with back-to-back birdies on the 17th and 18th holes to overtake Petronzio, who finished at 14-under after a final-round 68. Paz’s 63 was two shots shy of the Port Royal course record, and his 15-under total set a tournament record for the event’s current format.
“Being patient was the key to today’s round, especially being four shots back of the lead,” Paz said after the round, according to The Royal Gazette.
American professional David Pastore took third at 12-under after a bogey-free 65, while Peter Bradbeer and Benjamin Martin shared fourth at 10-under. Amateur Will Haddrell was the leading Bermudian, finishing ninth at two-over par after a closing 69.
Because of his amateur status, Paz could not accept the $10,000 winner’s cheque, which went instead to Petronzio as the leading professional. The title does carry a bigger prize: an exemption into next month’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship, the PGA Tour event scheduled for October 22-25, 2026, also at Port Royal.