Hennie du Plessis kept himself inside the top 20 on Sunday in the final round of the Challenge Tour’s Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos Spa & Golf Resort in Óbidos, Portugal with a closing three-under-par 69.

The South African had five birdies and two bogeys in his round which saw him finish the tournament on none-under-par, 10 strokes behind the winner Marcel schneider of Germany. Schneider had a one-shot edge over Frederic Lacroix of France, who, in turn, was three ahead of Spaniard Alejandro Del Rey.

Next best of the South Africans was Bryce Easton, who carded a four-under 68 in the final round to move to eight-under for the tournament and a share of 23^rd. Jacques Kruyswijk had a closing level-par 72 to finish in a share of 34^th on five-under. JC Ritchie had a 69 in the final round and finished on four-under in 39^th, and Louis de Jager battled to a three-over 75 for 44^th on three-under.

Du Plessis will stay in 33^rd on the Challenge Tour rankings as he pushes to get into the top 15 in the final three events before the Rolex Challenge Tour Grand final in Spain on November 4.