DAVID Howell claimed his first pay day on the European Tour this season after a third under-par round of the week on the final day of the Qatar Masters.

Swindon star Howell’s one-under score of 71 took him to a total of four-under overall for a share of 61st place and a prize pot of 3,261 Euros.

The tournament at Doha Golf Club was just Howell’s fourth of the season and second in this calendar year due following a series of injury issues for the 42-year-old.

After opening up the event with rounds of 69 and 70, Howell drifted down the leaderboard on Saturday with a two-over 74 but the Broome Manor man managed to finish in a positive manner after another under-par round on the final day.

Howell began his round with six successive pars but a double bogey six at the seventh meant he reached the turn two-over.

However, things swiftly took a turn for the better and Howell picked up his first birdie of the day at the 10th and that began a sequence of four birdies in seven holes, with further shots claimed at numbers 13, 14 and 16.

Howell could not continue that momentum all the way to the clubhouse, though, as a bogey at the last saw him drop back to one-under for the day and four-under overall.

Fellow Englishman Eddie Pepperell claimed his maiden Tour title on 18-under after a two-under final round of 70 saw him finish one shot clear of countryman Oliver Fisher.