Nick Jones discovered the hard way in Florida last week that practice does indeed make perfect.

Heading into last weekend's Golf Channel Tour event at the 7,182-yard, par 72 Polo Trace layout, the Bermudian opted against taking in a practice round because of academic commitments.

And it ultimately cost him what would have been a fourth overall title in Florida this year.

Jones, the first local golfer to be named Golfweek Magazine's Young Player of the Week, endured a bogey riddled round in which he found the drink and three-putted twice yet somehow managed to come in at four-over-par 76 to earn himself another shot at glory.

But a missed birdie putt from 30 feet on the first play-off hole (par four, first) finally put paid to Jones' hopes as American rival Mark Contento drained his birdie attempt from a shorter distance to clinch the Championship Flight.

Afterwards, Jones was the first to admit that a lack of practice might've undermined his bid for another title on US soil this year.

"I should've done a lot better but I didn't get a chance to get in a practice round which probably cost me a couple of shots because I didn't know where things were or what club to hit," he lamented. "I had to study for exams and couldn't get off the Friday before the tournament to see the course."

Jones repeatedly struggled off the tee on the course's lush, rolling fairways on the way to carding eight bogeys and four birdies.

"I didn't know what was over the hills or where the best spot to put it was," he added.

"I putted well but I definitely think had I played the course beforehand I could've done better.

"I wasn't disappointed with my round, but I knew it could've been a lot better."

The promising 18 year old golfer is scheduled to return to Florida next month to compete in another Golf Channel Amateur event before returning to Bermuda to compete in the annual Amateur Stroke Play Championships.

Jones was accepted earlier this month at Stetson University where he hopes to earn a spot on the school's NCAA Division One team and is due to graduate a week today from Grandview Prep.