FORMER Clacton schoolboy Jason Levermore showed his customary ice-cool temperament to win the London Open in a play-off at West Essex.

The Little Channels Golf Centre professional looked to have the tournament at his mercy within regulation play, needing to two-putt from only six feet on the 18th green.

But his first downhill effort rolled around three feet beyond the cup and he missed the return.

That meant Levermore finished his two rounds at three-under-par alongside Glen Portelli (Old Fold Manor) and extra time was required to split the pair.

At the first additional hole Portelli produced a wonderful up-and-down from dense rough to save par.

The two men then birdied the next.

But Levermore parred the third play-off hole which Portelli could only bogey after missing the green left with his approach.

It gave the Essex PGA ace a ninth Order of Merit victory – but first since 2012 – and meant it was a case of all’s well that ends well after that dramatic three-putt at the end of his second round.

Levermore, 38, reflected: “It was one of them.

"I dribbled the first putt three foot past and lipped out coming back.

“But I don’t really get too excited, to be honest.

"Obviously I didn’t enjoy three-putting it but it wasn’t going to ruin my day, put it that way.

“I’ve not won a great deal lately, so if someone had said to me at the start of the day that I’d finish second I’d have been happy with that.

“Going in to the play-offs there was not much to lose and I played the three holes nicely.

“It’s great to win.

"I hit 15 greens on the first day and 15, maybe 16, greens the second day, so I’ve just been very steady.

"I made only two bogies over the two days.”