Scotland’s Connor Syme waved the birdie wand to secure an equal best European Tour career finish with third at the Magical Kenya Open in Nairobi.
The 25-year-old Drumoig golfer posted a superb seven-under par 64 for a 17-under par tally on the Karen Country Club course.
South African Justin Harding claimed a second Tour triumph and his 11th pro career success with a last day 66 to win by two shots at 21-under par.
American Kurt Kitatama (66) finished runner-up on 19-under.
Connor Syme finishing third for a second time in his 65-event European Tour career
Syme, and contesting his 65th European Tour event, had gone so close to a first victory last year’s Celtic Classic to finish third at Celtic Manor
Now he has matched that effort and also easily surpass his effort of two years ago when he did not break 70 in the event.
Syme said: “I was here a couple of years ago as well and really, really enjoyed the golf course and it was one I was looking forward to coming back to play.
“I played lovely, to be honest, I played really, really well and it was nice to finish off a good week with a top-3 result.
“It’s also a good boost going into the rest of the season”.
Syme went into the final round at 10-under par and six adrift of Harding and the Scot got the start he wanted picking-up four birdies over his opening five holes, including three in succession from the fifth.
And if there was a Syme shot of his outward nine it came at the par-4 eighth hole.
The 25-year-old was pin-high right of the flag in an apron between the green and a bunker but duffed his chip shot about four-foot only to then brilliantly hole out to save par.
Syme then seized a fifth birdie in draining a 100-footer at the ninth hole in an outward half of just 30 blows and head to the ‘business end’ of the Kenyan event.
And Syme kept the pedal to the metal with birdies at the back-to-back par-5s 11 and 12 before further birdies at 15 and 17 and with bogeys on 14 and 16.
Calum Hill was just three shots from the front with a round to play but a third hole bogey checked his progress before birdies at six and the ninth holes.
The Crook of Devon golfer ended with a 70 to share eighth place at 14-under.
The eight Scots that teed-up this past week are remaining in Nairobi to tee-up in Tuesday’s starting Kenya Savannah Classic on the same Karen course.
