EDDIE Pepperell relished being in the limelight as he battled for a maiden European Tour title at the Spanish Open.

The 22-year-old was playing in only his tenth event since graduating to the elite circuit, but the rookie felt at home near the top of the leaderboard.

Pepperell finished in a career-best share of eighth place and his three-under-par total was just two shots away from getting into a play-off, which was won by Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin.

The Abingdon pro won an event on the Challenge Tour last year, but he had not been at the sharp end since gaining a place on the European Tour.

Rather than being fazed, he relished the situation.

He said: “It was the first time I have been in contention and there were cameras everywhere.

“It was totally new, a baptism of fire, but I really enjoyed myself – it was nice to have the spotlight on you.

“I want to show people what I can do and I loved it. I could easily have won, and that gives me a lot of confidence.

“I felt more nervous on the first few holes, but that evaporated and I felt comfortable.”

The finish netted him a cheque worth more than £27,000 and catapulted him up to 103rd in the European Tour rankings.

It came just days after switching to work with respected coach Mike Walker, whose clients include Thomas Bjorn, Oliver Fisher and Richard Finch, who have all tasted victory on tour.

The Frilford Heath golfer felt it had made an instant impact.

He said: “I only started working with a new coach a week ago and that’s turned my game around.

“My ball striking was on a whole new level this week.”

The top-ten finish qualified him for the Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea, which starts tomorrow.

Pepperell would otherwise not have been eligible for the lucrative tournament.