Trentham Park's Alec Smith secured his place in the final of the Crown Golf English PGA Assistants' Championship - as the only player to break par at Cheshire's Styal Golf Club.
The Stoke-based 22-year-old carded an impressive two-under-par 68 to lead home the six qualifiers that will play in the championship finale at Hampton Court Palace Golf Club on September 28.
Smith, who missed out on reaching the £10,000 showdown last year, made no mistake this time with a round that included five birdies and three bogeys.
He will be joined by north easterner Chris Mathews of Preston's Samlesbury Golf Centre, who booked his place at the second attempt after also missing out 12 months ago.
Mathews carded a level par 70 to secure second place with Ashton-under-Lyne's James Salt and Bondhay's Matthew Swindell sharing third place after one-over-par 71s.
The final two spots required a play-off with Michael Kanski (Hesketh) and Ben Scott (Clitheroe) making birdie at the first extra hole to claim their places at the expense of Chris Coates (Grange Over Sands), Jason Fallon (Thornbury) and Paul Grannell (Vale Royal Abbey).