Plymouth, Mass. —Local golf enthusiasts all across the Berkshires exhaled a collective sigh of relief Thursday afternoon.

None more so than Pittsfield’s Matt Donovan.

After six years of near wins, failed chances and close calls, the 29-year old finally earned his first win on the North American Pro Golf Tour, formerly known as the New England Pro Golf Tour.

“I’ve waited a long time to get this win,” he said. “This is a good win to get on this tour.”

After opening with matching 67s at Pinehills Golf Club, he entered yesterday’s final round with a one-shot lead over 2005 Connecticut Open champion Nick Cook. Donovan extended his margin with birdies on Nos. 1, 3 and 4 and made the turn in 2-under 34.

Up one over Cook as he played his 2^nd shot from 265 yards to the par 5 16^th hole, Donovan “heel-cut” his approach and watched as it sailed toward to the front right bunker guarding the green. In years past, mistakes like that have resulted in bogey and more frustration. Yesterday, it landed short of the bunker, bounced over it and onto the green, leaving him 25-feet for eagle.

He then drained the putt for eagle and extended his lead to two after Cook made birdie.

“That was huge,” Donovan said of his eagle, the lone three on 16 all week. “I gave a little fist pump there.”

He promptly gave it back on No. 17, where he flew the green with 9-iron from 129 yards and missed a 10-foot par putt.

His lead dwindled to one.

After a good tee shot on the final hole, Donovan faced the same 205-yard approach that he had blocked short of the green and made bogey from the day before.

This time, his 4-iron found the putting surface, 60-feet from the hole. Cook played next and pull-hooked his approach into the water, setting the stage for Donovan to three-putt for the win.

“I was pretty confident I could three-putt, but you never know,” he said. “I’ve seen some goofy things happen.”

Not today.

Donovan lagged to five-feet and then made his par putt to finish 14-under and earn $10,175.

During the trophy presentation, Donovan couldn’t help but grin from ear-to-ear.

“Seeing everybody holding the trophies every week, I wondered when I was going to win,” he said. “But you don’t really know until you get it.”

Donovan may have doubted when he would “get it,” but through each phase of his progression as a player, he was surrounded by people who always knew that he had it.

“I’m really happy for him,” said CCOP Head Professional Brad Benson, who instructed Donovan during summer camps as a junior golfer. “I was always hoping for the best for him. “He’s as capable as anyone out there.”

“Good guys can finish first,” said Country Club of Pittsfield member and two-time Pittsfield City Champion Matt Scarafoni, who has known Donovan for 20 years and has played more than 100 rounds with him. “Matt is the best golfer I’ve ever teed it up with in my life.”

“It’s a payoff for all hard work he’s put in,” said PGA Professional Bob Dastoli, Donovan’s high school coach at PHS. “He’s been relentless. He was all business, even in high school golf.”

“He deserves it,” said Wyantenuck head professional Tom Sullivan, who instructed Donovan during college and still works with him occasionally. “Maybe this is a springboard, his breakthrough.”

One of the first phone calls Donovan made was to his father, Jim, who has offered support—both emotional and financial—through all the ups and downs.

“He was happy,” said Donovan. “He knows what I go through. It gave him something to smile about.”

Indeed, it gave all local golf enthusiasts something to smile about.