3 Aug 2015

Strong finish for Fox on Challenge Tour

7:49 am on 3 August 2015

The New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox has fired a final round 7 under 65 to improve 18 places and record a top-10 finish at the latest European Challenge Tour event in Portugal.

Ryan Fox and his caddie, father Grant, at the Trans-Tasman Cup, 2010.

Ryan Fox and his caddie, father Grant, at the Trans-Tasman Cup, 2010. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Fox was third following the opening round after carding another 7 under 65 but slipped down the field in the middle two rounds before ending on a high to finish in a share of 10th place.

He's started the final day in a tie for 28th.

The 28-year-old finished 11 shots behind the winner Finland's Roope Kakko.

It was a solid result for the New Zealander, whose improved world ranking of 142nd made him the top-ranked golfer at the second-tier European event.

Fox won a tournament in France last week to put himself into contention to claim a full European Tour card next year.