Chris Gill won his first major title for five years by edging out Andrew Sherborne in a play-off to become the Waverley TBS West Region champion at Woodbury Park.

The 28-year-old Exeter touring player, who led from start to finish, will remember Woodbury's brilliant par three signature 18th hole with both joy and despair.

He dropped his only shot in two days in the second round on the 18th. Yet his six-under-par 66, the tournament's low round following an opening 67, gave him a five shot lead going into the final day.

And he was one stroke ahead of former European Tour winner Sherborne (Kendleshire) and two better than David Hutton (High Post) as the final trio teed up at the last hole.

Sherborne made a safe par, Hutton lipped out from 12ft for a birdie before Gill's two-footer spun round the hole but remained above ground for a second bogey.

So it was back to the 160-yard 18th with water on three sides. After two safe pars the pair tried again. This time Sherborne's seven-iron finished four feet above the hole in the fringe.

He elected to putt, left the ball short and then missed from four feet. This time Gill made no mistake from 2ft to claim his first West Region order of merit title and bank his biggest cheque since he won on the Europro Tour in 2002.

"It is a great feeling," he said. "I have been playing great golf this year and owe a lot to a coaching session I had on the beach at Minehead last week."

He went there with pro Glenn Ross, now the South West Golf Foundation development officer based in the Somerset seaside town, who videoed extensively and proposed suitable minor adjustments.

Gill, who played on the Asian Tour until funds ran dry, is now reconciled to playing regional golf unless cash is forthcoming. His target now is to win the order of merit.

Sherborne, 46, made up five shots with a closing 67.

"He was awesome and hit the ball beautifully," praised Gill. Hutton, 32, too, charged into contention and was only one behind at the turn.

"I made two three putts coming home," he said. "I am getting fed up finishing second and third which I've done a few times. It's about time I won an order of merit.

"I made five birdies and at three-under after nine I was only one behind Chris who was going backwards. But those three-putts proved costly."

Sherborne made his move on the back nine. He said: "I just hung in there not playing very well and then I hit the ball as well as I had been doing all week."

A 3ft putt brought an eagle at the 14th, he birdied the 12th and came home in four-under for his second consecutive 67.

He added: "Chris gave me a chance with that silly missed putt, but I can't complain. Chris got a bit rattled as David and I closed the gap but he played the 15th and 16th really well and deserved to win. We all played decent golf on the back nine."

Waverley TBS West Region PGA championship, supported by Diageo, at Woodbury Park, par 72:

Scores 205 -11 Chris Gill (Exeter) 67 66 72 £1,500, 205 Andrew Sherborne (Kendleshire) 71 67 67 £1,250. (Gill won at the second extra hole in the play-off) 206 David Hutton (High Post) 68 70 68 £1,000.00 211 Richard Brookman (Creigiau) 70 71 70 £910 212 Matthew Prior (Pyle & Kenfig) 71 74 67, Craig Bell (Cumberwell Park) 71 73 68, Mark Sanders (Knowle) 73 70 69, Barry Austin (Downes Crediton) 68 74 70, Sean Mason (Teign Valley) 69 70 73 £616 213 David Haines (Brean) 72 71 70, Michael Watson (Weymouth) 70 71 72 £445 214 Andy Beal (Hamptworth) 73 67 74 £415 215 Jon Bevan (Wessex Golf Centre) 73 70 72, Lee Thompson (Dudsbury) 71 68 76 £375 216 Richard Dinsdale (Parc Golf Academy) 75 70 71, Paul Jones (Canford Magna) 71 70 75 £290 217 Paul Collins (Marriott St. Pierre) 74 70 73, Graham Howell (Ferndown Forest) 71 73 73, Matt Dearden (The Vale) 68 73 76 £158 218 Stuart Disney (Hele Park) 71 75 72, Ian Harrison (The Golf Centre) 71 71 76, Jon Langmead (Exminster) 71 70 77 £103 219 John Goymer (Wheathill) 70 76 73, Adam Constable (Cardiff) 72 72 75 £87