Having already qualified for next year's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth after finishing top of the North region Order of Merit, the Selby professional was competing at Royal Liverpool in a 21-strong field comprising the three best players from each of seven regions.

But Scotland's Chris Doak claimed the honour as the PGA's No 1 player for 2008 with a runaway 11-under-par score of 133 – six shots ahead of compatriot Jason McCreadie and ten ahead of Ludwell, who followed up an opening 73 in gale-force conditions with a two-under-par 70.

Doak also won £2,000 and invites to a host of European Tour events, while Ludwell secured an invite to next year's Scottish Open at Loch Lomond, along with a number of Challenge Tour events.

Nick told the Selby Times he was "highly delighted" with his finish, and that it had been his best ever year on the Northern Tour.

Speaking with a heavy cold – "we played all week in waterproofs and woolly hats" – he said he had partnered Doak the first day when the Scotsman shot a 66 (a "fantastic" score in the conditions) and didn't think he could catch him after that. "He played out of this world."

He said it was possible he may also qualify for next year's Welsh and English Opens on the strength of his result, but it was all a bonus as he was not having to rely on tournaments to pay the bills since becoming club professional at Selby.

"It's nice to have a bit of good news amid the current doom and gloom," added Nick (seen in action).