A former Suffolk PGA Champion could be poised to land the biggest title of his career after securing his place in the final of Europe's biggest pro-am.
Newton Green professional Tim Cooper, 36, is heading for Turkey and the PGA National Pro-Am Championship Grand Final with sales director Bill Byford, just three days after his partner celebrated his 42nd birthday.
The duo racked up an impressive seven-under-par 65 to secure a two-shot winning margin at the regional final at King's Lynn to land an all expenses paid five-day trip to the Sirene Beach & Hotel Resort and Antalya Golf Club at the end of the year.
Four teams - Bury St Edmunds, Clacton, Norfolk Golf & Country Club and Hintlesham - shared second place at five-under par.
Cooper, who has been the professional at the 18-hole 'common land' course on the outskirts of Sudbury for 15 years, hailed the win as one of the highlights of his career.
But he revealed a key tactic in the victory was keeping his partner in the dark after a blistering front nine saw them at five under - level with the clubhouse leaders.
"I saw the scores as we approached the 10th and I was fully aware of how we were doing but I didn't want to tell my partner anything at all - not even on the 18th," said Cooper.
"I knew five under was leading and I didn't want to put any extra pressure on my partner, who was brilliant.
"We hadn't played together before but Bill was always there when needed.
"The front nine belonged to Bill and the back nine I kept my game together, particularly with a five foot putt for par at the 16th and an eight foot putt at the last.
"I knew they were crucial putts and winning is definitely up there in my career.
"It hasn't quite sunk in yet but I'm really looking forward to the final as good friend of mine, who has been there, has told me how good it is."
Sales director Byford, who plays off 19, could hardly believe it either having swapped his cricket bat for golf clubs just two-and-a-half years ago.
"I really can't believe it because I'm not really that good a golfer but today everything just went for me," he said.
"My brother is a good golfer, who plays off 10, and he won't believe this - especially as he was one shot off qualifying for the regional final last year."
He added: "I knew Tim and I were doing quite well but I never had an idea exactly how well we were doing because I just focused on my game and not the score.
"I'm glad Tim didn't tell because I not sure how I would have handled it."
The pair's challenge could hardly have got off to a worse start as they bogeyed the first hole of the testing King's Lynn course.
However, they rectified the error with a birdie at the third hole and another at the fourth. But a run of five successive birdies from the sixth put them in the driving seat. They completed their birdie run at the 13th before parring the closing holes.
They will now compete against 15 other regional finalists during the five-day five-star trip to the Sirene Beach & Hotel Resort on the shores of Turkey's Mediterranean Coast from November 30 to December 4.
The tournament, which attracts more than 100,000 entries, is now in its 24th staging and has been held in Portugal, Spain, Grand Bahamas and Sardinia prior to Turkey last year.