Carlos Balmaseda was soaring high after he eagled the third extra hole to win the Golf Citizen Classic for his maiden victory on the MENA Golf Tour at the Els Club Dubai on Wednesday.

The 44-year- old Spaniard produced a spectacular approach to hit the green in two at the par-5, 18th and holed the ensuing 18-foot putt, beating England’s Luke Joy, who had eagled the same hole in regulation to force a playoff at six-under.

Both players birdied the first two extra holes to extend play, but the Spaniard, who closed with a 70, atoned for his bogey-bogey finish in regulation with a solid putt in a nerve-racking finish.

India’s Rayhan Thomas carded a 71 after making the turn at two over to finish in a tie for third at five under alongside Max Williams of England, Antonio Costa of Chile and the Swedish duo of Fredrik Lindblom and Per Barth.

“I am absolutely delighted. It feels special to win one for the family as I am one of the MENA Golf Tour’s ambassadors,” said Balmaseda after receiving the winner’s trophy from Khalid Zarouni, president of Dubai Sports City.

Carlos Balmaseda with Khalid Zarouni, president of Dubai Sports City, Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, and Chris Brown, general manager at the Els Club Dubai

Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour, and Chris Brown, general manager at the Els Club Dubai, were also present.

“I took a relaxed attribute into the playoff and that paid off. Of the seven playoffs that I have played in my professional career, I have won six. So, the confidence was there.  “Luke is a great player and I needed to focus hard,” added Balmaseda, who also boasts two runner-up finishes on the MENA Golf Tour.

England’s Joy, who closed with a 71, felt he had his chances but didn’t play great on the front nine he covered in two over par. “It was nice to finish with an eagle and force playoff. I think it’s time I start winning the trophies again. I am knocking on the door and hope it will open soon,” said Joy, a two-time winner on the tour.

In one of the major highlights of the final round, England’s Joshua White showedimpressive powers of recovery after a dreadful start to his final round.

The 2014 MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit champion responded to an early triple bogey on the par-5, 5th with three straight birdies before making the turn at one over. Six birdies, including four in a row from the 15th, and an eagle highlighted his sublime back-nine that he blistered in six-under 30 en route to a closing 67 that propelled him to tied eighth on four under in a four-man group, which included overnight leader Lee Corfield, who returned a final round 75.

“It was kind of a roller coaster round,” said White, who holds the record for the lowest 18-hole score on the MENA Golf Tour, a nine-under 62 he shot at the 2014 Golf Citizen Masters in Al Ain.

India’s Thomas took the leading amateur honours while the Moroccan duo of Faycal Serghini and Ahmed Marjan shared the leading MENA Division professional award after the two finished level on one-under- par for the tournament.

Othman Almulla emerged as the region’s leading amateur for the second time in a row when he carded a final round 73 for a seven-over 223 total, beating his nearest challenger and compatriot Saud Al Sharif by one shot with Khaled Attieh settling for third a further stroke adrift.

Final results:

Carlos Balmaseda (Spain) playoff

Luke Joy (England)

Leading tournament amateur:

Rayhan Thomas (India)

Leading MENA Division professional:

Faycal Serghini and Ahmed Marjan (both of Morocco)

Leading MENA Division amateur:

Othman Almulla (Saudi Arabia).