Leicestershire golfer Steven Whittle had both bad weather and his caddy to thank after he booked his place in the final of the Powerade PGA Assistants' Championship, in association with FootJoy, at the Midlands qualifier.
A fog delay of two and a half hours saved the 24-year-old, who was stuck in traffic on the M1, from missing his tee time.
And his foresight in asking one of his friends Steve Thomas to carry his bag for the event also paid off as in the wet weather he took care of everything and allowed Whittle to concentrate on playing.
His reward was a one-under par round of 71 at Whittlebury Park which was good enough for joint second place and one of the qualifying spots for the final at The London Club in August.
But it could have all turned out differently had play not been put back earlier in the morning.
"I would have missed my tee time had it not been for the delay," said Whittle, who turned professional at The Leicestershire Golf Club in October.
"I was stuck on the M1 for about an hour and ended up having to go back the other way.
"Had I not made it that would have been it - I wouldn't have been able to qualify anywhere else."
The course was very wet from overnight downpours and with the rain continuing Whittle was thankful to have Thomas carrying his clubs and making sure everything stayed as dry as possible.
"Steve was fantastic in the wet. I think I would have struggled a bit more if I had been carrying my kit," he said.
"It is a luxury to have a caddy - especially when I felt how heavy the bag was.
"I've taken him out for a beer to say thank you.
"I can't wait to get to the final now. My brother qualified for it last year so I know a bit about it."
Brother Mark, from Hinckley, shot a two-over-par 74 to join Steven at The London Club in August.
The event was won by Martin Edge from Hesketh Golf Club in Southport, who had made the three-and-a-half-hour journey from the north-west as the qualifier in his region clashed with Open final qualifying - which he hoped to be involved in.
Edge was having a steady round, one over after 12, when he birdied the 13th, 15th, 16th and 17th and even a dropped shot did not affect his top spot.
"I was a little bit surprised my score was enough to win it but the conditions made it difficult," said the 19-year-old first-year assistant.
There was an eight-way play-off for the last five places, which with darkness falling were eventually claimed by Andrew Simmonds, Andrew Barton, James Weight (Wavendon), Matthew Thorpe (Peterborough Milton) and Simon Gabbitas (Harborne Church Farm).
The PGA Assistants' Championship, which has a £5,000 first prize, has had some notable winners with former Ryder Cup captain Dai Rees winning in 1935 and 1936, the 'Voice of Golf' Peter Allis claiming the title in '52, Open and US Open champion Tony Jacklin in '65 and Barry Lane in '83.