Jason Palmer warmed up for his full European Tour debut by taking part in The Leicestershire Winter Series.
The Kirby Muxloe professional, who secured his 2015 Tour card a few weeks ago, finished in a tie for first place in round two of the series.
Palmer (Crouch Logistics) fired eight birdies when he teed off from the 10th with his friend Neil Chaudhuri, a playing pro from the host club, event organiser Steve Whittle, a PGA pro at The Leicestershire, and a home member amateur Alan Fletcher.
Palmer tied on 38 points with Lindrick pro Ben Smith and Scraptoft amateur Darren Anderson. Smith ended top on local rule.
Palmer and Chaudhuri were county amateurs together, and it was Chaudhuri who convinced Palmer to use his now famous one-armed chipping technique that has seen him attract publicity throughout Europe and further afield in recent weeks.
It all came about four years ago, when Palmer and Chaudhuri were both playing on the Alps Tour.
Experiencing a tough time on the Tour, they set up a short-game practice challenge.
Palmer was hitting the ball well from tee to green in the tournaments, but his wedge shots from within about 50 yards of the green were costing him good scores.
He said: "I was at rock-bottom. I was playing well but I just couldn't score because every time I missed a green, I was making a bogey.
"Neil convinced me to go one-handed – and I haven't looked back since.
"I am happy to continue with my chipping style on the European Tour. With one hand the feel is still there, so is the touch, so I wouldn't like to change it now.
"When I won the Alps Tour order of merit last year to get the chance to play on the European Challenge Tour, I stuck with the routine.
"It has given me this opportunity to move up to the full Tour, so I am confident I should continue to use it there.
"I have used the same technique for bunker shots, too, but now, depending on the shot, I use mainly two hands in sand.
"Golf is a results-based game and all shots count, so it's crucial to score as best you can and this routine has made a huge difference to me.
"After I won in China this autumn and secured my card when I finished runner-up a week later in Oman, I have attracted many golfing headlines as a 'one-armed bandit' and have had to do a lot of interviews demonstrating my approach shots, so it has become a huge talking point.
"But if it's right for me I will carry on. After all, it's the total on the card that counts at the end of every round."
In the Winter Series tournament at The Leicestershire, Palmer was two over after three holes – from the 10th in the full-field shotgun start – but got it back to one-under par for his opening half.
Coming back, a string of birdies saw him finish with a flourish.
Mick Wells (Scraptoft) was fourth after a six-way tie on 37 points on countback from amateurs Ray Walsh, Richard Wale, of the host club, Northamptonshire's Kyson Lloyd, another home member Steve Bradshaw and Wellingborough's Mark Davis, with a host pro Ian
Lyner completing the top 10 on 36 points.
