Wilco Nienaber rounded out a solid week on the Challenge Tour with his third three-under-par 69 of the week in the Irish Challenge at the K Club in Palmer South, Straffan, County Kildare, Ireland, giving him a share of sixth.

Nienaber finished the week on nine-under-par, seven strokes behind the winner. Swede Joakim Lagergren made a dramatic eagle on 18 to snatch a one-stroke victory at 16-under-par over France’s Sebastien Gros. Brandon Robinson Thompson, the 54-hole leader, signed for a closing level-par to finish third on 13-under. Ryan Lumsden of Scotland and Bjorn Akesson of Sweden were fourth and fifth on 12-under and 10-under respectively.

Nienaber raced to four-under through the first five holes with a birdie on the first, an eagle on the third and another birdie on the fifth. But he managed to find a way to fritter away that great start with bogeys around the turn on nine and 10, and then he dropped a shot on the 13^th. He managed to regather himself and made birdies on 15 and 18.

His performance will lift him to 17^th on the Road to Mallorca rankings, which, at the end of the season, will determine which 20 players gain promotion to the DP World Tour.

Dylan Naidoo closed with a level-par 72 to finish in a share of 11^th with, amongst others, Bryce Easton on six-under. Easton had a closing two-under 70.

Robin Williams closed with a one-under 71 for a share of 47^th with Deon Germishuys on one-over. Germishuys had a two-over 74 in the fourth round. Louis Albertse slipped to a closing five-under 77 and was in 62^nd on five-over.