Ponte Vedra Beach, FL – Former eGolf Tour member Derek Fathauer punched his return ticket to the PGA TOUR on Sunday afternoon, closing with a final-round 68 at the Web.com Tour Championship to secure a one-shot victory and the event’s $180,000 first-place prize.

Fathauer’s week at TPC Sawgrass Dye’s Valley began in solid fashion, with opening rounds of 65-66-67—198 giving way to a one-shot lead over Zac Blair entering Sunday’s final round.

The former teenage prodigy, who played on the PGA TOUR in 2009 at the ripe age of 23, birdied two of his first three holes on day four to vault to 14-under for the week and suddenly five shots clear of Blair, who double-bogeyed the par-3 second hole.

After turning in 1-under 34, Fathauer birdied Nos. 10 and 13 to move to 15-under for the tournament and well in control of his own destiny. It wasn’t until a late bogey on the tough par-4 17th, however, that things got interesting, as Blair had rebounded with birdies on 10, 11, 12 and 17 to close the gap to one shot with the par-4 18th left to play.

Fathauer hit his approach shot to 50 feet on the 72nd hole, setting up a mandatory two-putt to avoid an overtime session in the final event of the 2014 Web.com Tour season. Miraculously, the 28-year-old nearly holed his birdie try, settling instead for a finishing par and a closing 68 that locked up the first win of his tour career.

With a 14-under 266 tally, the Jupiter, FL native secured a one-shot win over Blair, but more importantly, a second trip to golf’s big dance – the PGA TOUR.

“Those last few holes were a little iffy,” said Fathauer. “I just wanted three good birdie putts on the last three holes. I didn’t do it on 17 or 18 but it just worked out in my favor.”

The win left Fathauer with just under $500,000 in season-long earnings and at No. 2 on the priority ranking list entering the 2014-15 PGA TOUR season. He is also exempt into the 2015 PLAYERS Championship, which features the most lucrative purse in professional golf.

“This is unbelievable,” said Fathauer after his round. “I was trying to force it for the first few events. I did a better job of staying patient this week and not looking too far ahead.”

In 2009, Fathauer made just eight of 25 cuts on the PGA TOUR during his rookie campaign. This time around, after learning on every tour from the eGolf Tour to the Web.com Tour, he feels more prepared.

“It was tough my first year. I’m not sure I was ready for the TOUR,” he said. “I think my all-around game is better now but I’m mentally tougher. I’m ready to give it another try.”

The win marked the finish of a torrid stretch of season-ending golf for Fathauer, who entered the week with two top-10s in the three prior Finals events – a T9 at the Hotel Fitness Championship and a T8 at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship.

Prior to that, Fathauer’s regular season campaign had been of the standout variety, with a playoff loss at the Nova Scotia Open in July serving as one of five top-10 finishes.

The former University of Louisville star spent 2010 and 2011 on the eGolf Tour, posting five top-10s in 24 starts, including a runner-up at the El Jadida Classic in Morocco – where he wound up two shots shy of winner Phillip Mollica.

Other former eGolf Tour players to secure their 2014-15 PGA TOUR cards at the conclusion of the Web.com Tour Finals include Andrew Putnam (8), Tony Finau (12), Zack Sucher (14), Blayne Barber (16), Andres Gonzales (22), Tom Gillis (23), Jon Curran (24), Nick Taylor (37), Kyle Reifers (38), Hudson Swafford (39), Ryan Armour (40), Roger Sloan (46), Fabian Gomez (48), Carlos Sainz (49) and Eric Axley (50).

For full-field results from the Web.com Tour Championship on PGATOUR.com, please click here.