Young New Zealand golfer Daniel Hillier has sunk a clutch putt on the final hole to secure a breakthrough win on the European Challenge Tour.
The 23-year-old held his nerve down the stretch of the Challenge Costa Brava in Spain, securing a dramatic victory on Saturday (NZ time) after starting the day two shots back from the lead.
Hillier went toe-to-toe with Swede Marcus Helligkilde in the closing stages, securing victory on the 72nd hole to bank NZ$52,000 and jump 27 places on the Road to Mallorca standings to give the Kiwi a realistic shot at earning a spot on the European Tour next season.
It leaves Hillier 18th overall, with the top 20 after the final event of the year in Mallorca next month earning tickets to the big dance.
Tied at 18-under heading onto the final hole, Hillier needed to best Hilligkilde's closing par to avoid a playoff and score his maiden challenger tour victory.
Under immense pressure, Hillier sunk a four-foot birdie putt following an excellent approach shot to claim the win.
"I'm pretty overwhelmed at the moment to be honest," Hillier says. "It's been a pretty unreal week from the get-go.
"We had some tough conditions to battle with, but I managed to battle through that and probably had the round of my life in round three.
"To follow that up today and to hole a nice put on the last is just unbelievable, I can't believe I'm standing here right now.
"It's probably been one of the most mentally taxing years I've ever had, so to get a win at the end of the season, I'm just more than grateful that I am standing here right now."
The Challenge Tour is the second tier of golf in Europe with Hillier hoping to earn a spot on the PGA European Tour next in 2022.
