Joe Dean, ranked at world number 2,930 and working part-time as a delivery driver, secured a “life-changing” prize of £170,000 by clinching the runner-up position at the Kenya Open.
The English golfer, who earned his place on the DP World Tour through qualifying, ended up in a tied second position behind Darius van Driel in Nairobi.
Dean, who works as a delivery driver for Morrisons supermarket, concluded with a final round score of four-under-par 67, finishing the tournament at 12 under par.
“It’s got to be [life changing]. It’s what people dream of,” said Dean.
The 29-year-old hailing from Sheffield earned qualification for the DP World Tour in 2023. However, due to financial constraints preventing him from funding travel expenses to participate in events, he didn’t compete until the Qatar Masters in February.
Following an unsuccessful attempt in Doha where he missed the cut, he resumed his job as a delivery driver for Morrisons, a position he held until just last week.
Nonetheless, after trailing eventual winner Van Driel by two shots following the first round, Dean kept pace with the Dutchman over the subsequent three rounds, ultimately finishing two shots behind alongside Spaniard Nacho Elvira.
“After the last three or four years I never thought I’d get another chance,” said Dean.
“Still some gremlins to get past in order to get to my full potential, but like anyone you’ve got to get over them, squash them and keep going.
“I’ve never been one of the most over-confident people – coming into this week was a bit daunting. Second event, you don’t really feel like you belong and feel like you’re trying to prove something.
“Luckily, I managed to get over that quickly and figure out how to get around the golf course.”