Kent Messenger Group Sunshine Challenge champion Steve Sharkey finished a creditable joint fifth in the national final in Portugal.

The 13-handicapper carded 99 Stableford points after three rounds which saw him finish just three behind champion Chris Swaby (h22, Yorkshire Post).

Sharkey, 44, who works as duty manager at London Bridge railway station, opened with a steady 32 at the picturesque Palmares course on the Algarve but it was his outstanding 38 – which included 25 on the front nine – at Morgado which really put him into contention.

Going into the final round at Pinta, Sharkey and Alastair Strange (h6, Chichester Observer) shared the lead with 70 points – six ahead of eventual champion Swaby.

Sharkey carded 29 points at Pinta and Strange 32 but Swaby was on top of his game on Friday and his impressive 38 points saw him take the honours on countback from Strange.

Sharkey, from Welling who plays at Croydon’s Farleigh Court, said: “I was pleased with the way I played but I could have won. After my 38 points at Morgado, my handicap was cut to 12 for the final round at Pinta and I was caught out a little by the doglegs. But it was a great week, well organised and the weather was a real bonus. I’ll be back next year leaner and meaner to defend my title!”

Final results: 1 Chris Swaby (h22, Yorkshire Post) 102, 2 Alastair Strange (h6, Chichester Observer) 102, 3 Robert Ryan (h10, Bournemouth Daily Echo) 101, 4 Ben Lobacz (h3, Portsmouth News) 100, 5= Steve Sharkey (h13, Kent Messenger Group) 99, 5= Symon Clifford (h9, Bristol Evening Post) 99, 7 Tom Fairbrother (h5, East Anglian Daily Times) 96, 8 Gregor Roach (h5, Perthshire Advertisor) 95, 9 Paul Kirby (h11, The Zone, Wales) 88, 10 Stewart McMehen (h3, Falkirk Herald) 87, 11 Tony Waller (h3, Golf North East) 86