Peter Lawrie has become the first Irish golfer to be named as the European tour's Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year.
The 29-year-old Dubliner, selected by a joint panel from the tour, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club and the Association of Golf Writers, finished 56th on the Order of Merit, just missing out on a first victory when he lost a play-off to Kenneth Ferrie for the Spanish Open.
Irish amateur champion in 1996, Lawrie turned professional the following year, but after four vain attempts to come through the qualifying school he graduated last season from the "second division" Challenge Tour, winning the final event to finish fourth on their money list.
"I looked at the list of past winners of the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year some time ago and was amazed to discover that no Irishman had ever won it, especially when you think of how well people like Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington played early in their careers," he said.
"Its nice to get one up on the lads. This is a trophy they won't get another chance of winning. This is a great accolade and when you look at the great players who have won it in the past, it makes me feel very proud."
Tony Jacklin (1963), Nick Faldo (1977), Sandy Lyle (1978) and Jose-Maria Olazabal (1986) and Colin Montgomerie (1988) are past winners of the award.