WILTSHIRE’S Jordan Smith was unable to add to his solitary European Tour victory after ending the 2021 British Masters in a tie for 17th.

The Chippenham-based golfer began the third round on Friday inside the top 10 but was unable to climb any higher as he finished on eight under par - five shots back of eventual winner, Richard Bland at the Belfry.

Despite the disappointment of failing to win, the high finish nudged Smith up two places in the overall world golf rankings, with the Bowood Golf Club member now in 248th.

The 28-year-old’s T17 result also pushed him up 27 places to 94th in the Race to Dubai.

Smith began Friday’s third round with two birdies in a clean first seven holes before an unwelcome bogey on the eighth saw his positive momentum hit the buffers.

Four consecutive pars followed as Smith recalibrated, and it appeared as though the Chippenham man was pushing towards the top as three birdies were racked up in his next five holes.

However, a bogey on 18 - a hole he only managed to par once all week - left a sour end to Smith’s third round.

Saturday’s final round began in fine style though, with a birdie-four on the Belfry’s third hole. Meanwhile, another followed on six after Smith rolled in a timely putt.

But with further birdies a necessity as Bland and defeated play-off rival Guido Migliozzi stretched their respective leads, three bogeys and just two birdies littered an erratic back nine for the Wiltshire man.

Smith’s putter had not been as hot as he had needed all week, aside from round two, but the 28-year-old still took home his biggest prize of the season in the shape of just over 27,000 euros.

Smith is set to take a week’s break from the European Tour calender, but is scheduled to return at the Made in Himmerland event in Denmark on May 27.

Meanwhile, fellow Wiltshire golfer, Laurie Canter finished in a tie for 30th following four under-par rounds at the tournament that was hosted by former The Masters champion, Danny Willett.