CHIPPENHAM'S Jordan Smith finished second at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship on Sunday after a wonderful final round at Al Hamra Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates.

The Wiltshire golfer was in the chasing pack following a round of 64 on Friday and 67 on Saturday before ascending into the lead midway through the final 18 holes of the event.

The Championship's eventual winner, Nicolai Hojgaard, threw away his initial five-shot lead as Smith chained together birdies before the Dane produced a stunning back nine to win by four on 24-under-par.

Smith's second-place finish saw the Wiltshire man continue his remarkable streak of six starts with improved results each time.

Ending the 2021 European Tour campaign with ties for 83rd, 41st, and 24th, Smith has begun the 2022 DP World Tour season with finishes of ties for 12th and ninth prior to his runner-up spot in the UAE.

Smith missed out on another victory on the Al Hamra course after a tumultuous final round for 20-year-old Hojgaard.

The Dane began the day with a three-shot lead and extended his advantage to five with an early eagle. But a double-bogey six on the ninth allowed Smith to close the gap to just one stroke as Hojgaard reached the turn.

And with Hojgaard dropping another shot at the 12th and Smith completing a hat-trick of birdies from the 12th to 14th, the lead changed hands as Smith led by two.

However, Hojgaard bounced back with a birdie at the 13th before producing the shot of the day on his way to an outstanding eagle on the next, and he suddenly found himself with a two-shot advantage after Smith, three groups ahead of the Dane, had bogeyed the 15th.

And from there Hojgaard was able to cruise to victory, making further birdies at the 17th and 18th to sign for a closing 68 and finish the week on 24 under par.

The Chippenham man, who began the day six shots off the lead, finished three clear of the group in third.

Smith, a winner at this course at the Ras Al Khaimah, 2016 Golf Challenge on the Challenge Tour, told Sky Sports: “I feel really, really good about this year.

“I'm happy with the changes that I’ve made, I’m really happy with the work that I’ve put in off the course and on the course, so I’m looking forward to the rest of the year.”