Ireland’s Tommy O’Driscoll clinched his best finish of the season when he closed with a six under 66 to tie for 25th in the Alps Costa del Sol at Lauro Golf near Malaga.

The 20-year old, who plays out of family owned Golf Clément Ader in Paris, recovered from a three putt par at the first by hitting 17 greens in regulation to post the joint second best  score of the day.

O’Driscoll finished on one under par, 17 shots behind winner Tom Shadbolt who went eagle-ace at the 13th and 14th as he closed with a 63 to win the €6,960 top prize by three strokes from Santiago Tarrio.

The cheque €605, just his second of the season following last week’s share of 34th in Luxembourg, leaves O’Driscoll 88th in the Order of Merit.

But having shot 68 in Friday’s second round, when he was seven under with seven holes to play, he’s slowly learning his trade.

Scores

Dubliner David Carey, also 20, missed the cut in Spain but is 37th in the Order of Merit with €5,843 from 14 starts, including a runner up finish in the Dreamland Pyramids Open in February.