Two Devon golfers are celebrating after winning a place in Europe's biggest pro-am grand final - despite fearing they'd blown their chances.
Portmore Golf Club professional Darren Everett and his amateur partner Paul Ackland, a 13 handicapper, withstood some shaky putting to scoop a one shot victory at Saunton links and earn a crack at landing the PGA National Pro Am Championship later in the year.
The Barnstaple pair's seven under par 64 proved enough to edge out a trio of clubs including host pro Albert MacKenzie and partner Michael Pennicott, Teignmouth's Robert Selley and Glynn Currey and Exminster Golf Centre's Jon Langmead and scratch player Jason Hampton who all netted 65s.
Jubilant Everett and Ackland can now look forward to a luxury five star trip to the 36-hole final, which is being staged at Turkey's Antalya Golf Club in November and which has a £30,000 prize fund.
Everett, aged 34, who has been head pro at Portmore for 12 years, must have feared the worst after dropping a shot on the very first hole but consecutive birdies on holes two and three put them firmly back on track although successive three putts over the closing holes didn't help their nerves.
"I think the key was Paul's three gross birdies on the front nine including a three nett two on the ninth," said Everett.
"I made a good birdie on 11 and holed a 30 foot putt for a birdie on 14. I also had to hole a nasty little six footer for par on 17.
"We thought eight under was going to be the winning score and we were seven under playing the par five 15th which I three putted after reaching in two and then Paul three putted the next for only a nett par and we thought the chance had gone.
"It's a fantastic feeling to reach the final, and I was actually looking at visiting the complex with my members so it's something to really look forward to."
Ackland, 35, a father-of-two and water engineer by trade, has been playing golf for a decade but was left stunned after the win.
"I've never won anything except the odd monthly medal so it's just fantastic," he said.
Former European Tour player Andrew Sherborne and Rob Piper from The Kendleshire, tied fifth with Tavistock's Dominic Rehaag and Kenny MacKenzie.
The winning pair will compete against 15 other regional finalists during the five-day five-star trip to the Sirene Beach & Hotel Resort on the shores of Turkey's Mediterranean Coast from November 30 to December 4.
The tournament, which attracts more than 100,000 entries, is now in its 24th staging and has been held in Portugal, Spain, Grand Bahamas and Sardinia prior to Turkey last year.