WILTSHIRE golfer Jordan Smith claimed his best finish since he tied for ninth at the year’s final Major at the US PGA Championship with tie for 22nd place at the Italian Open today.

The Derry Hill star produced a sparkling final eight-under round of 63, which included nine birdies, at Golf Club Milano to finish on 14-under overall.

Starting the day on six-under, the 24-year-old got off to a flying start with a birdie at the opening hole, although that was surrendered with a bogey at the fourth.

However, the only way was up for Smith as he clawed his way towards the top end of the leaderboard with birdies at six, eight and nine to reach the turn at three-under and nine-under overall.

There was no let up on the march home as a run of three straight birdies from the 11th to the 13th continued the Bowood players upward trajectory before he signed off with a birdie-birdie finish.