Richard Dinsdale, who has been striving to win a West Region PGA Order of Merit event since his last success 15 years ago, finally broke through again to claim the Forest Classic.
But the 36-year-old Parc Golf Academy teaching professional only won at the third extra play-off in the gloom at Forest Hills.
He made a remarkable birdie three at the 10th to end the challenge of defending champion Ed Goodwin (Cirencester) after the third player Chris Gill (Exeter) missed a two-foot putt to depart at the first hole.
Goodwin looked to be the favourite as his 3-wood drive finished a yard off the green while Dinsdale's drive left him in the middle of a thicket. The Welshman produced an exquisite lob wedge over the trees to within 10 feet. Goodwin, who had a bad lie, could only hit and hope and finished 18 feet short. He missed the putt before Dinsdale converted.
"I have been waiting a long time after my first win in the Rhonda Masters all those years ago," he said. "I've played regularly since but never got really close.
"I worked hard at my game and am enjoying a good season. I played well in the Glenmuir pros so finishing 20th was disappointing, but I put it all together in the Forest."
After dominating on the first day with a six-under-par over the Bells Forest of Dean course to lead by three, his round at Forest Hills was in danger of imploding when he dropped four shots in the first eight holes.
But he recovered and five birdies rapidly followed on the ninth, tenth, 12th, 213th and 15th after his final dropped shot on the 14th.
He failed to sink a 12-foot putt on the last for the 71 required for outright victory after Gill and Goodwin had posted scores of 66 and 67 to be in at six-under 135.
Gill, who also lost a play-off a year ago, made seven birdies including three over the closing four holes, as he made up a six-shot overnight deficit.
Course specialist Goodwin, five behind after the opening day, made six birdies from the seventh hole and suffered one setback when he found a bunker off the tee at the par five 15th.
Consolation was taking first place in the betterball with nine-handicapper Bruce Peare aged 54, who is a carpentry contractor in Cirencester.
02 July, 2009