The rookie professional golfer James Gill of Hamilton shot a final round even par 72 to finish on five over and in a tie for 23rd at the UK Open at Collingtree Golf Club in Northampton.
England's Steve Surry won the event after Chris Hanson let a five shot lead slip in the 2009 PGA EuroPro opener.
It's a welcome $860 payday for Gill, the only New Zealander on the world's leading developmental tour, who works as a waiter and kitchen hand at Fairmont St Andrews in Scotland when not playing or practising golf.
Last year he graduated from the prestigious St Andrews University with a masters degree in finance but rather than go into the world of international banking, he decided to follow his passion of being a professional golfer.
