PGA professional Brendan McGovern and amateur partner Fred Reilly carded a nine-under-par 63 to win the Irish regional qualifier for the Gulf Air International Pro-Captain Challenge, supported by BMW.
The pair won by two from former PGA Cup player John Dwyer and his captain Aiden Punch (from Ashbourne) to book their place in the 36-hole grand final to be held at The Royal Golf Club in Bahrain later this year.
However, the pair were unaware how well they had done as McGovern had to head the 18 miles back up the road from Knightsbrook to his Headfort Golf Club base before the event had finished as he had a series of evening lessons to take.
"I was teaching a group class at half-past six so it was back to the day job," said McGovern, who was delighted to have qualified for the final having come within a shot of making it on a couple of occasions.
The performance of the captain is often the difference between making the final and not and in that respect Reilly certainly played his part.
Reilly, a 15 handicapper, made nett birdies on the first two holes to get his team off to a flying start and after McGovern had picked up shots at the next two the captain came in with another two birdies.
The professional picked up two more shots to leave the Headfort pair eight under after eight holes.
They bogeyed the 11th to drop back but McGovern carded their only two birdies on the back nine at 15 and 17 to lift the score back to nine under - which proved to be good enough for victory.
"I have been close in this a couple of times but never got there and I've always wanted to win it," said McGovern.
"It was a decent score. We left a few shots out there and I always feel the winner is the one who does not leave any out there.
"But if your captain plays well you have a chance and mine had four nett birdies in his card. It is not always about the pro.
"He drove the ball particularly well, was never in trouble bar the 11th, and he played well all the time. He was hitting the ball as far as I was off the tee!"
Each of the PGA's seven regions provides one pair for the final in the Middle East, which is supplemented by the host club's professional and captain and the winners of an international qualifier.
"This is a great trip, it is such a good one to win," added the 42-year-old McGovern, who has been at Headfort for 18 years.
"We're really looking forward to it. I've been to Bahrain a couple of times but only passing through.
"The fact we will be looked after so well is nice but I'm competitive and if there is a competition on I want to do well.