Michael Herrera breathed a huge sigh of relief after securing his first victory of the year on the APGA Tour with his final throw of the dice.

With the title his to lose, the American nailed a 40-foot downhill putt at the 18th green to clinch the season ending Butterfield Bermuda APGA Championship title by two shots in dramatic fashion at a wet and windswept Port Royal Golf Course yesterday.

"I was hoping the whole year I would win and was playing well leading up to this tournament but I just didn't have a win all year," an elated Herrera told The Royal Gazette.

"So to come in here at the end of the year and get my win for 2023 feels great."

The Californian shot the day's lowest round of three-under 68, which included four birdies and a bogey, to secure the $15,000 winner’s purse and the sole spot up for grabs at next year's Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

“It feels even more amazing that I will be back for the PGA Tour event," added Herrera, who finished the 36-hole event at four under.

The title remained wide open heading into the final round with Herrera, his compatriots Chase Johnson, John-Baptiste Hakizimana and Wyatt Worthington II, and Bermuda’s Nick Jones all tied for the lead at one under.

Herrera grasped the lead outright on the 1st hole and he maintained that advantage for the rest of the round..

“I just wanted to get it in and didn’t care what I shot today,” he added. “If I was going to shoot 85 I was going to do it with a smile, but to be able to put a good round together and give myself a chance coming down the stretch, that’s all you can ever ask for.

“The course played tough today and yesterday. I think even if there wasn’t any wind it still played tough.

“It has a lot of bite to it so to be able to come out and shoot in the red, with the conditions we had, is a great test and I am very pleased with my two rounds.

“It was a true blessing to have the opportunity and then to capitalise makes it that much better.”

Johnson and Aaron Beverly finished tied for second at two under with both players receiving $5,750 in prize money.

Florida resident Johnson got his round off to a wobbly start after making double bogey on the 1st, which cost him a share of the lead and ultimately the title.

“I played really well today but started the day with a three-putt and ended the day with a three-putt,” said Johnson, who signed off with a one-under 70.

“In between was really good and I hung in there, grinded it out in tough conditions and it was fun.”

Beverly started the final round one shot off the lead and managed to secure a top-three finish after carding the day’s second-lowest round of 69.

“It was just a battle of wills pretty much yesterday with the weather and today with the rain all day,” the Californian said.

“It was fun, honestly, and you just had to embrace it. You knew some shots were going to go wayward but at the same time you just hopefully hit a couple of good ones, keep it in the right spot and make some putts if you can.”

Jones finished tied for fifth with fellow overnight joint leader Hakizimana, the pair both falling off the pace after carding bogeys on the 1st hole.

"I hit the ball really well on the back nine but with the wet conditions I left a lot of putts out there,“ said Jones, who carded a 74 and received $3,125 in prize money.

“I am disappointed with myself bogeying the last hole. I was trying to make a birdie and just got a little bad luck there, but I enjoyed the event. I played well and I am happy where my game is and looking forward to next year.”

Also flying the island’s banner was Chaka DeSilva and Arriek Douglas, with DeSilva finishing thirteenth at eight over and Douglas nineteenth at 13 over among the field of 21 players.

DeSilva earned $1,500 and Douglas, a late replacement for amateur Jarryd Dillas, $1,000.