Essex golfer Jack Winer said it was a “dream come true" after he claimed his maiden Order of Merit tournament victory at the East Region Championship in Bishop’s Stortford last week.

Winer, from Abridge Golf and Country Club in the village of Stapleford Tawney in Epping Forest, fought off the likes of Jason Levermore and Brett Taylor to claim the victory thanks to a fantastic putt on the first extra hole.

The win is the Essex golfer’s second victory in the space of a week after he triumphed at the PGA Fourball Championship at Belton Woods alongside partner James Watts days earlier.

The 30-year-old had to do it the hard way at the East Region Championship, though, as the tournament went to a play off after Levermore, Taylor and Winer all finished with a five-under par score of 137 after 36 holes.

But unlike his counterparts, the Essex golfer was the only one to find the green on the first extra hole, thanks to a 140-yard effort which flew to within 18 feet.

Taylor didn’t enjoy such good fortunes down the left but Levermore looked like extending the play-off with a deft chip from behind the back of the green.

However, Winer held his nerve to birdie the first extra hole, pulling off a tricky left to right putt to claim the win.

The 30-year-old believes his victory alongside Watts days earlier played an integral role in his performance at Bishop’s Stortford and also paid tribute to Gary McGrath, who was his playing partner in the alliance event that ran alongside the tournament last week.

Winer said: “I’ve been playing well for a good few weeks and then to go away with Wattsy (James Watts) and have the week that we did just spurred me on.

“One thing that I kept from that was when we were under the gun he had my back as in, ‘Stay calm, we’ve got this.’ Then I put that same mentality into playing out here through the second day.

“And it was great to have my partner Gary, an old friend of my dad’s, next to me. Gary has caddied for me before at Tour School and is such a laugh. I think that when you are under pressure you need that – it keeps you relaxed.

“I was unfortunate to miss a five, six-foot putt down the last hole to win it in main time. But to win it in a play-off – and win two play-offs in two weeks – is a dream come true. It’s really good."