DAVID Howell took the positives from a successful two weeks in China despite bogeying the 72nd hole to lose the Volvo China Open in Shanghai this morning.

Wu Ashun became the first Chinese player to win a European Tour event on home soil as Swindon ace Howell faltered at the final hurdle.

Two-time Ryder Cup star Howell needed to birdie the par-five 18th to win or make par to force a play-off after Wu had set the clubhouse target on nine under par in testing conditions at Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club.

However, the Broome Manor member three-putted from the fringe after charging his birdie attempt seven feet past the hole to hand victory to world number 247 Wu.

"Obviously it's very disappointing," Howell said. "I was in good shape to win the tournament and didn't get it done. So it’s going to hurt for a while, but I didn’t do a lot wrong.

"I holed a lovely putt on 17 to give myself a chance on the last and I kind of realised I was already in a play-off.

"Ashun was already in on nine under and I had it to win on the last and I had it to lose, which would have been the same if we'd gone into extra holes.

"It was tight all day but I was very calm. I wasn't as nervous as sometimes I have been in that situation, which was pleasing. The thing I think cost me was my second shot to 14.

"I was in a good position, didn't birdie 13 (a par five) when I was in the lead at that point and then hit a poor eight iron on 14, just a poor swing and got a bad lie in a waste area and made bogey which let everyone back into the tournament.

“It’s obviously hugely disappointing to finish with a six, and I guess the crucial shot was the lay-up. To miss the fairway has cost me the chance to at least force a play-off, so I’ll probably be ruing that one for a while.

"I actually thought I’d hit a reasonable pitch, but it came up short then I rushed the first putt past, and left myself with too much to do. But that’s golf.”

Howell, who was also fourth in the Shenzhen International the previous week, added: "I've had two chances to win and played a lot more composed over the back nine this week than last week.

"I felt more in control of my game so it's been a fantastic two weeks.

"Obviously it's a crying shame for me not to have come home with the trophy but there's I don't know how many billions of people who are rather pleased I made six at the last."

Argentina's Emiliano Grillo, who double-bogeyed the 17th, shared third place on seven under with defending champion Alexander Levy and Thailand's Prom Meesawat, with 19-year-old Li Hao-tong following his runners-up finish in the Shenzhen International last week with sixth place after a bogey on the last.