Golfer Evans enjoys best European Tour finish for months

The Staplecross-based professional came tied 15th in the ISPS HANDA UK Championship at The Belfry Hotel & Resort, near Birmingham.

Evans was seven-under-par for the 72-hole tournament at the famous Midlands venue, which has hosted the Ryder Cup on four occasions.

The 33-year-old carded a one-under 71 featuring four birdies, including three in a row from the 15th, in a first round which spilled over into a second day because of bad weather.

Evans followed that with a level-par second-round 72, recovering from three bogeys in four holes early on with birdies at the seventh and 16th. He moved into the top 20 after a two-under 70 in round three.

Three birdies in four holes from the fifth were followed by another at the 13th,

plus bogeys on the 11th and 15th.

Evans gained four more places courtesy of a four-under final-round 68, which left him a shot better off than former world number one and 10-time Ryder Cup player Lee Westwood.

The round contained birdies at the third, seventh, 14th, 17th and the difficult 18th, plus a solitary bogey on the 15th.

Evans climbed 63 places to 209th on the season-long Race to Dubai rankings as a result of his performance in the final event of the UK Swing.

He’s also in the field for the Estrella Damm NA Andalucia Masters at Real Club Valderrama in Spain.