Cruse, 24, playing in his second final, having lost to club mate Anthony Nash in 2010, was in control from the outset as Curtis never recovered from a poor start, finding himself three shots down after the first four holes which included a six-shot bogey on the 4th.
Following the ill-timed start, Ryan found some sort of form, sharing the next four holes before a birdie on the 9th kept the lead down to just two and he followed that with another brace of pairs going into the crucial last seven holes.
However, Cruse was starting to apply the pressure and Curtis finally crumbled, bogeying the 12th before Joe shot a birdie two on the same hole to go five down. It then stayed that way for the rest of the first round.
The first four holes after the lunch break proved crucial as Curtis lost three of the four holes to give Cruse a seven point lead.
The seven shot deficit remained intact from four to nine despite a couple of missed chances from Ryan.
Curtis was starting to play better without getting his rewards before finally reduced the deficit, eagling a brilliant long-range putt to give the travelling Bude supporters something to cheer.
At the 12th Curtis came within a whisker of holing for 3 with a chip from the green but again Cruse didnt buckle, making a comfortable par.
The 13th was to prove decisive. Following good approach play by both, Curtis boldly chipped well from a bare lie and left himself below the hole. Cruse studied the options and chose his putter and this time to the delight of his family, club members and spectators alike he rolled the ball into the hole for a birdie 3 to seal his victory and become county champion with five holes still unused.
A delighted Cruse said: "I feel great. It was horrible to lose at Trevose in 2010 but it’s strange - at the Cornish Closed a couple of weeks ago I went there thinking I was going to win. Although that didn’t happen I came into this week thinking I would win.
"I knew I was playing well and was never down to anyone in any of the rounds. I got off to quick good starts in all of my matches and through 8 holes was well up in all of them. (2 up on George Leigh, 4 up on Steve Chapman, 6 up on Richard Simmons, 5 up on Sandy Kirton and 3 up on Ryan). Each time though I forced myself to keep my foot on the gas.
"Today my caddie - Mike Masters - was brilliant. He kept saying to me despite the lead ’come on we’re all square’ and we carried that forward on each hole. Ryan has played really well this week and I though this morning it wasn’t a birdie making day so I gave myself a number to shoot 69 and that’s what I did.”