THORNLANDS man Mark Duncan is $100,000 richer after conquering an Egyptian-inspired mini-golf hole designed by Greg Norman to win Channel Seven entertainment show Holey Moley.
Mr Duncan - who lives just minutes from where the show was filmed - said he was on cloud nine, having celebrated with contestants, his wife and sons at the Alexandra Hills Hotel on Monday night.
"I am smiling everywhere," he said. "I am buzzing. I still have goosebumps watching that ball go into that hole on replay.
"I am over the moon that I did it and the well wishes from everyone there last night - and all my friends, family and work colleagues - has been fantastic.
"After 9 o'clock, I think I had about 120 messages to deal with."
Mr Duncan was one of Holey Moley's colorful characters and earned a reputation for his fuzzy beard, which has won him several awards.
He said he would spend his winnings on a dream car.
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"I have had rep cars, so I have never had that dream car," Mr Duncan said. "That is what I'm looking for.
"The money will be well spent and we are going to be mindful about it because money is tight.
"We might pay off a credit card ... and whatever is left over we are just going to put into savings."
Mr Duncan was one of two Redlands contestants on Holey Moley, with stuntwoman Angela Sippel also appearing on the show.
He kept his success under wraps for five months after filming before celebrating over champagne last night with some of the show's other contestants.
"I did a speech," he said. "I got on a chair and yelled out to everyone.
"I said 'you guys were all awesome on the show and you made this show happen'.
"It was awesome for them to be with us. When that last putt when in, every contestant came up (and) we thanked each other.
"I had the putter in the air ... and was cheering like I was on the course."
Mr Duncan, who was favourite with the bookies to win the show, had to defeat a professional golfer to claim the show's golden putter and the $100,000 prize.
"I was the underdog on that night," Mr Duncan said. "I was the amateur golfer, I wasn't a pro. It was just me doing the job.
"I just did my breathing technique, putted and bang. Then I celebrated with my signature booyah."
Mr Duncan will come crashing back to reality on Wednesday when he heads to work for the first time since his winning putt went to air.
He said if it was not for the show he would still be going about his usual business, including travelling to Redland Bay Golf Club for a round on Saturday.
"I am nearly 50 so you don't really do it (a reality show) in your life," he said.
"I never expected that I would get through the first round."
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