New South Region number one James Ablett admits he was relieved to finally get over the finish line after coming close in the previous two years.
The Lee-on-Solent assistant professional claimed the MPI Financial Services Order of Merit on the final day of the last event - which made up for letting his grip on the lead slip at exactly the same time 12 months ago.
Ablett went into the CK Group PGA Southern Professional Championship at Dale Hill contesting the title with four other players.
World of Golf's Gary Marks, the 2006 OOM winner, missed the cut in the 54-hole event so that left just Farnham's Steve Cowle, Limpsfield Chart's Michael McLean and Staplehurst's Scott Stevens in the running.
Cowle's finish three places above his rival meant the final outcome was almost too close to call but after lengthy calculations Ablett was crowned champion by just 23.5 points.
"I'm delighted and relieved. I was getting close the last two years," he said.
"When you get the opportunity again you think to yourself 'When I am I going to get another opportunity'?
"You think you are good enough but when you don't get the end product it makes you wonder.
"I probably did not play as well this year in terms of scoring and wins but it does not matter."
In the tournament Ablett opened with a 71 - three off the lead - and although a second-round 70 ended his chances of winning, it kept him in touch with his Order of Merit rivals.
Later that day he returned a 74 to be left sweating over the final result as Cowle closed two strokes better.
"To a certain degree it was in my own hands to lose or win," admitted Ablett.
"Gary Marks missed the cut so I had to make sure my result was better than the other two (Cowle and McLean).
"All I knew was I was 66 points ahead (before the start) and Steve had beaten me by two shots.
"Personally I felt when I walked off the course and saw what Steve had shot I thought I had mucked it up.
"I actually texted my best mate to say I had finished second. It was a relief when the result actually came out as I was only 50% confident.
"I was shattered mentally when I got home."
Ablett, who has already secured his maiden European Tour start at next year's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, now heads to the Srixon PGA Play-Offs at Royal Liverpool next week looking to earn further invitations to European and Challenge Tour events.
He is also holding out hope of securing a place on the European Tour next year as he is still involved in the qualifying school.
"I'm off to Liverpool and then I've got second stage of Tour school," he said of his plans.
"I could get four more Tour starts at Hoylake and then in four or five weeks I could have a Tour card."
19 October, 2008