EDDIE Pepperell fired a superb final round of 66 to claim a top-ten finish in the Dubai Duty Free Irish at the K Club yesterday.

After a disappointing third round of 76, the Abingdon professional was never going to challenge for the title won in the end by world No 3 Rory McIlroy by three shots on 12-under-par 276.

However, Pepperell’s six-under-par final round gave him joint eighth place on 283 and prize money of €94,800.

He was in a similar position at the halfway stage, but never got it going in the weather-delayed third round, which was not finished until yesterday morning.

But the Frilford Heath golfer, who lost a play-off for this title in 2015, was quickly out of the blocks in his final round

Starting at the tenth hole, he began with a hat-trick of birdies in an outward half-of 34.

There were four more birdies and a bogey on his back nine, which added up to a round of 66, the second lowest of the final day.