Charlestown’s James Nitties defeated Toronto’s Cal O’Reilly one-up after Nitties drained two long putts in the six-hole format.

Nitties progressed to the final where he lost to Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

Nitties pocketed $188,880, and although it was the biggest pay day of his career, Nitties missed the opportunity to secure a European Tour Card.

The tournament, which comprised three rounds of stroke and knockout 6-hole match-play, is a European co-sanctioned event, with the winner earning playing rights.

A forrmer member of the US PGA tour, Nitties has been in the wilderness, playing the Australasian Tour and mini-tours, since losing his playing status on the second-tier web.com tour in America in 2015. 

“Yeah, it’s a sad way to go down considering another win might have got me some playing rights somewhere in the world because I currently have no status, but it was a great week,” Nitties told Fairfax Media.

“Considering I was a four-footer away from losing the first match, it was pretty positive stuff getting to the finals.”

Aphibarnrat, 28, claimed his fourth European Tour title with a two-and-one win, requiring just five holes as he nailed an eagle and then a birdie to seal victory.