Michael Hoey rounded off a gutsy, battling final round performance with a brilliant sudden-death play-off birdie to win the European Challenge Tour's Tessali-Metaponto Open di Puglia e Basilicata .
The Belfast 28-year-old defeated Welshman Liam Bond at the first extra hole to take the €20,800 first prize and move to eighth place on the Challenge Tour Rankings.
Hoey's victory puts his career back on an upward trajectory after he lost his form and confidence during a disappointing rookie season on The 2006 European Tour.
The 2001 British Amateur Champion thought that he had blown his chances of victory at Tessali after two back nine bogeys left him one over for the day with four holes to play, but as he approached the 18th green he was told that he was just one behind clubhouse leader Bond.
"I though that I was playing for a top three after dropping shots on the 12th and 14th", said Hoey. I had got ahead of myself a little bit and I had thought to myself 'here we go again'. Then I just stepped back and though that I had to try and finish well. I lipped out for birdie at the 16th and 17th and then I asked one of the guys what was leading when I was on the 18th.
"That's when I realised I had a birdie putt to get into a play-off. It was a tough putt, downhill and very fast, but I read it well and rolled it in for birdie".
Hoey had almost surprised himself into the play-off, but he was soon over the shock and focused on winning.
He and Bond both left themselves birdie putts from around 20 feet from the first extra hole at the 302 yard par four 18th but this time Hoey was below the cup, and his opponent had the tricky downhill effort. Bond two putted for par, leaving Hoey the chance to win it.
"I read the putt really well, it was one of those putts that you know has a great chance and I managed to hit it well and it broke perfectly into the hole", said Hoey.
"My putting was good all week though and that was the key to winning I think. It feels amazing to have won again. The goal this year is to finish in the top-10 of the Challenge Tour so this is a great win for me."
USPGA TOUR:Nick Watney and Ken Duke opened a three-shot lead on the field after 12 holes of the final round in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at the TPC Louisiana Avondale, Louisiana yesterday.
Watney and Duke were tied at 14-under-par with five holes to play - three clear of Anthony Kim with John Mallinger and Mark Calcavecchia four back on 10 under.
