The race for the MPI Financial Services Order of Merit reaches a climax this week with five players in with a realistic chance of coming out on top.
Twelve months ago the South Region's number one was decided at the final event in Jersey with three players battling it out for the title but this year it is even closer.
The 2006 winner Gary Marks (World of Golf), last year's runner up Lee-on-Solent's James Ablett and third-placed Steve Cowle (Hoebridge) have been joined by Craig Cowper (also World of Golf) and Limpsfield Chart's Michael McLean.
All have a chance of winning the Order of Merit but the main aim is securing a top-three place to book their spot in the end-of-season Srixon PGA Play-Offs at Royal Liverpool later this month.
Cowper, who won the Merrist Wood Masters, is excited by the enthralling climax to the season which culminates in the CK Group PGA Southern Professional Championship at Dale Hill which starts on Wednesday.
"I think if I won the last event I may have a chance of winning the Order of Merit but the priority for me is getting in the top three and getting to the play-offs," said Cowper, who is enjoying a friendly rivalry with Marks.
"Gary is a very good player and both of us have had good seasons. Unfortunately I didn't enter the Keith MacDonald match play so it's probably going to be a little bit difficult for me to win it but I'm still hoping for a play-off spot.
"And this is good for the range because we work there full-time."
Marks, who shot 59 at the Coombe Wood pro-am in July, has yet to win a stroke play Order of Merit event this year but has kept himself in contention with second place in the Golf College Challenge, third in the Southern Masters, ninth at Merrist Wood and then second in the match play - a result which lifted him back to the top of the pile.
McLean, who leapt into contention with victory at the rain-shortened PGA Southern Masters, knows the competition will be tough.
"Marks, Cowle, Cowper, Ablett - they usually clean up because they are really good golfers so it is nice to be alongside them," said the 45-year-old.
"Five of us are going for those three spots."