Rising star Paul Casey confirmed his enormous potential by securing a maiden victory in only his 11th European Tour event as a professional in the Scottish PGA Championship.

Casey carded a final-round 69 over the Centenary Course at Gleneagles for a 14-under-par total and one-stroke victory over Germany's Alex Cejka.

Swindon's David Howell was alone in third on 11-under with Worthing's Gary Evans, Swede Carl Pettersson and France's Christian Cevaer another shot back in joint fourth. The 24-year-old collected the first prize of £166,660 to take his earnings over £300,000 in under four months and into the top 30 in the Order of Merit.

Few players have made such an instant impact in the game with Sergio Garcia offering the best recent comparison, the Spaniard winning the Irish Open on his sixth start as a professional.

"This is fantastic," said Casey who secured his card for next season by finishing second in the Great North Open in June on only his fifth of seven allowed invitations. "I'm really happy with the way I played. I kept my head on my shoulders and stuck with the game plan. I didn't play well at the start of the year, but after Slaley Hall I thought I could win out here."

Casey admitted he considered turning professional after playing a major part in Britain and Ireland's Walker Cup triumph at Nairn in 1999, winning four points out of four.

But he was enjoying college life at Arizona State and wanted to make sure he began life in the paid ranks as assuredly as he has. "I didn't want to come out and scrape around and end up having to go to Tour School," added Casey.

"There were times when I thought I should have turned professional earlier, but no regrets now."

Casey, playing only his 15th tournament as a professional ever, began the day one shot behind Cejka, but was quickly in front when he birdied the third as Cejka made a bogey five.

A bogey at the next allowed Cejka to get back on level terms, but the German promptly dropped a shot at the next and after they swapped birdies on the eighth and ninth, Casey led by one at the turn.

Birdies at the 12th and 14th - the latter from 50 feet - took Casey two clear and, although he bogeyed the next, another birdie at the 16th put him two ahead again. Cejka would not give in, however, and birdied the 17th to close the gap to one, but Casey held his nerve, holing from eight feet for birdie at the last with Cejka slightly closer, to clinch the title.