Callum Shinkwin has secured the fifth top-10 finish of his European Tour career, despite his challenge for the Czech Masters faltering in the home stretch.

The Moor Park Golf Club professional shot a one-under-par closing round of 71 to finish in a five-way share of ninth place with a score of seven-under for the tournament, six shots behind winner Haydn Porteous.

Having secured his best-ever result at the Scottish Open where he was beaten in a play-off for the title and competed at the Open Championship in July, the Bushey player returned to European Tour competition at Albatross Golf Resort after a five-week break.

Shinkwin showed no ill-effects from the lay-off by firing a six-under-par 66 to lead be one shot after Thursday’s first round. Although this was followed by three-over-par second round of 75 – the majority of which was completed yesterday after bad weather forced play to be suspended on Friday – the 24-year-old was to two-under for his ‘back’ nine and he carried that positive momentum into a three-under-par third round of 69.

Starting the final round on six-under-par and six off the lead, Shinkwin was closing in at the top of the leaderboard after playing his first 10 holes today in four-under following birdies at the par five first and 10th, and the par fours at six and eight.

However, he then dropped two shots in three holes – at the par four 11th and par three 13th – and he also bogeyed the par four 17th to finish on seven-under in a group which included Lee Westwood.

Moor Park club-mate Matt Wallace finished seven shots further back in a share of 43rd place on level par for the tournament after following up his rounds of 72, 73 and 72 with a one-under 71.

The 27-year-old made four birdies in his final 18 holes, at the par four fourth, sixth and 14th and the par three 13th, but dropped shots at the 11th, the par five 12th and the par 18th.