EDDIE Pepperell secured his third successive top-five finish when he came tied for third in the Portugal Masters.

The Frilford Heath golfer, who led the tournament briefly during the third round, shot a three-under 68 to finish with a 15-under-par total of 269, five shots behind the winner, Dane Lucas Bjerregaard.

Starting the day two shots off the lead after third-round 68, Pepperell had a bogey-free round, but his three birdies at the fifth, seventh and 15th were not enough to close the gap at the top.

He looked like coming tied for fourth, but South African George Coetzee dropped from tied second to tied seventh after a triple-bogey seven at the last, guaranteeing the Abingdon golfer a prize of more the 100,000 euros.

This lifts him to 54th in the PGA European Tour's Race to Dubai money list. The top 60 at the end the season, will play in the big-money end-of-season tournament in the Middle East.