James Nitties described it as "atomic matchplay".

Nineteen players teed off in one supergroup at Sanctuary Cove’s Pines Course and as darkness descended almost eight hours later Queenslander Adam Blyth was the last man standing.

The Mercedes Benz Gold Coast Sanctuary Cove Shootout was drama-infused from beginning to end.

Rookie Robbie Hogan called a penalty on himself yet survived the sudden-death chip-off to advance past the first hole and as the field thinned so too did the available light, Blyth and Travis Smyth facing off on the 18th hole under the spotlight provided by the armada of golf carts that had witnessed the elimination of one player at a time throughout the day.

It was the first time that the PGA of Australia had used the format as part of the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series and given the sudden-death nature and atmosphere generated by the large gallery that followed them it was a popular addition amongst the players.

“I’ve never been so nervous,” said Nitties, who made it to the 12th hole before a bogey saw him eliminated.

“You can’t get into a rhythm. When you’re nervous playing a big tournament you’re in your zone and just concentrating on the shots you have to hit but here you’re waiting 25-30 minutes between shots and it’s like everyone wants you to play bad.

“With that many guys you play for par the first five or six holes and you’re fine. It’s like an atomic matchplay.

“I had a six-footer to stay in it and you know everyone wants you to miss it. So it’s exciting that way.

“In a regular golf tournament no one really cares about your game but in this format everyone just doesn’t want to go to a chip off and just go to the next hole.”

Tasmanian Simon Hawkes was the only player in the field who also took part in the Blitz Golf tournament at Glenelg Golf Club earlier in the year and also welcomed the PGA’s latest innovation.

“It’s really bizarre because when I got the email about playing in this the golf club where I did my traineeship, Ryde-Parramatta Golf Club in Sydney, used to do the exact same thing,” said Hawkes, who was knocked out in a chip-off with Anthony Quayle on the ninth hole.

“So I knew exactly what I was getting into and it’s turned out great.

“It’s really hard to pick a winner in this format because you could make nine straight birdies and then one bogey and you’re out.

“If the club gets behind it, and seeing the turnout today they certainly have, this event could turn into something really big.”

Lismore-based professional Sam Brazel has played in the Golf Sixes team event on the European Tour the past two years and also enjoyed the different format, despite bunker trouble at the par-5 third hole bringing his chances to an early finish.

“Obviously if you muck up you’re in strife but if you’re a good, steady player you can go a long way in this format,” Brazel said.

“If you’re one of the first to tee off you’ve got to be a little bit conservative.

“Keith Pelley, the CEO of the European Tour, has done a really good job of sparking a bit of interest with some different events and it’s great to see the PGA also trying something new.”

Brisbane veteran Michael Wright succumbed in a chip-off against Terry Price at the picturesque par-4 sixth hole and made one suggestion for next year’s event.

With green speeds that some players estimated at around 13 on the Stimpmeter and hole locations that offered very little margin for error, Wright said the players may need some extra incentive to be aggressive.

“This is something that we don’t normally get the chance to do and to have the buzz of the crowd all around us makes it a really exciting event to play in.

“Perhaps one way of jazzing up this event even more would be to offer $100 or $200 for a nearest-the-pin on each hole, that way you’d see us attacking the pins a lot more.

“That might make it a little bit more exciting and really bring the shootout element into it.”

Rockhampton’s Adam Blyth was the last professional into the 19 competitor field courtesy of a last-minute withdrawal on Thursday evening, and has made the most of the opportunity beating a quality field and overcoming young-gun Travis Smyth on the last hole.

“When I got the call during the week I was thrilled to be given the last position into the field," said Blyth.

“I was really excited to have the chance to play a different style of event and to be honest, I am not sure I have ever been as nervous as I was on the first tee this morning.

“My strategy heading into today was to make sure I beat just one person each hole to ensure I remained in the field.

“I did have to endure the two chip offs to progress on the 7^th and the 17^th holes though was fortunate enough that my short game held up under the pressure.

“The crowd support out there for the whole day was incredible. There must have been a couple of hundred Members watching, that’s what made the day for me."

Twenty-three-year-old Travis Smyth was the first competitor to secure his place for the final hole after going for the green on the par 5 17^th hole for two. A solid up and down from the back of the green resulting in a birdie.

Unfortunately for Smyth his tee shot down the 18^th found the water which left Blyth in control to win the inaugural event.

“It was tough to see as darkness was closing in and my ball found the water," said Smyth.

“It is a real confidence boost though given my title defence at the NT PGA next week and all of us professionals are extremely thankful for the opportunity to play this unique event.”

The majority of professionals will be heading to the Northern Territory ahead of this week’s MMC Northern Territory PGA Championship.

The next stop on the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series will be the Murwillumbah Golf Club for the Murwillumbah Pro-Am to be held Thursday 23 August 2018.

Final results below: