John Parry, who turned professional following last year's Walker Cup match, earned membership of the PGA European Tour in style by topping the qualifying school at Frilford Heath, Oxford.
The Harrogate man turned to the event after missing out at the European Tour qualifying school last autumn.
wintry weather on the final day forced lots of errors from the big field, but Parry shot a three over par 74 and held his nerve down the st
retch to finish on four under par overall, one ahead of fellow former international Jamie Moul, from Suffolk.
Irish-based Yorkshire man Simon Thornton claimed third place.
Parry started the final round in the lead at seven under, but Moul caught him as the Harrogate golfer dropped two strokes at the first.
A run of solid scoring was followed with a bogey at 17 that piled on the pressure down the 18th.
Parry stayed calm, however, to make par and keep Moul at bay.
"You are bound to be nervous," said Parry. "But Jamie and I are friends and we were chatting throughout. It was good to play with him."
An eagle at the fourth was the only bright spot for Thornton, the first round leader who had started the last day two back from Parry.
He bogeyed five more holes to end on three over.
The Tour begins in earnest at Wensum Valley, Norfolk, on April 30, with The Shire in Hertfordshire staging the second event on May 7.
Leading scores: 209 - J Parry (Harrogate) 69 66 74. 210 - J Moul (Stoke by Nayland) 67 71 72. 211 - S Thornton (Royal County Down) 68 69 74. 212 - D Clark (Morpeth) 71 70 71. Other Yorkshire scores: 216 - A Belt (Bridlington Links) 72 73 71; A Wainwrght (Selby/DP Publicity) 77 67 72; R Mugglestone (Lindrick) 72 71 73. 221 - J Ashworth (American Golf, York) 72 74 75. 223 - M Hempstock (Doncaster) 75 72 76. 227 - D Thomas (Baildon) 73 77 77. 230 - T Robinson (Wynyard) 74 76 80. 231 - D Sturgeon (Hallowes) 72 75 84. 232 - M Skelton (Wynyard) 74 76 82.
The full article contains 354 words and appears in EP Leeds First & County newspaper.
