DAVID Howell secured his second top-five finish on the European Tour this season when he ended in a tie for fourth at the Shenzhen International in China this morning.

The Broome Manor pro produced his best round of the week at Genzon Golf Club, shooting a four-under 68 to finish on 10-under overall.

That was two shots behind event winner Kiradech Aphibarnat of Thailand, who beat home player Hao-Tong Li in a play-off.

Swindon ace Howell started his final round six shots off leader Aphibarnat but got off to a flying start, recording three birdies in his first six holes.

A bogey five at the seventh threatened to stall his momentum, but he set that right with back-to-back birdies on the closing two holes of the front nine to go out in four-under.

The 39-year-old could not carry that on in the back nine and, following a run of four pars, he dropped a shot with a bogey at 14.

Although he swiftly got that back with a birdie at the next, a run of three pars to finish meant he was unable to improve on his 10-under total.

He therefore missed out on a play-off by two shots but the 74,410 Euros for a tie for fourth was some consolation.

That is Howell’s second biggest pay day of the season, following winnings of 80,600 Euros for his tied second finish at the Joburg Open back in March.

Howell will remain in China next week as he takes part in the Volvo China Open in Shanghai from Thursday.