PAUL DWYER secured his best ever finish in a European Tour event at the Madeira Island Open - but felt he should have won the tournament.

He was one shot off the lead going into the final round but a number of mistakes in howling wind cost him several shots and he eventually finished seventh.

He picked up around £15,000 in prize money, matching last year's entire winnings.

It had looked so good for the Clitheroe attached pro, who is from Read but now lives in Ripon, when after 15 holes in the third round he was leading the tournament.

But then play was stopped due to the descending fog and the leading players had to return the following morning to complete the third round.

"The tournament was in the mountains," said the 28-year-old. "And when the fog comes down it stays down. The last hole was unplayable.

"At that stage I was leading on eight under then I parred the 16th and three-putted the 17th in the fog to move back to seven under.

"Then they called it off and the leading players came back on Sunday.

"The fog had gone but the wind had picked up but everyone had to play in the same conditions and no one was as loose as they had been the day before.

"But I bogeyed the last hole into the wind.

"I was still one shot off the leader going into the last round but I hit a poor shot on the first hole, didn't get up and down and bogeyed it.

"Then I had a good chance for a birdie at the second but missed that and then I had another chance for a birdie at the third and missed that.

"Then I hit the fourth into a hazard with the wrong club and double bogeyed that so I was three under for the tournament then and four shots off the leader.

"But from there I hit a couple of birdies on the back nine and finished seventh.

"It wasn't too bad considering the weather.

"If I'd just hit the right club on the fourth I could have won the tournament.

"But considering the other players who were there I did very well."

Dwyer, who failed to qualify for a Tour card via Qualifying School last year, will now play at the Portuguese Open next week.

"If you finish in the top 10 at an event you immediately qualify for the next week's event," he said.

"I am pleased. I have worked hard on my golf this winter. I have played two tournaments on the Challenge Tour and picked up a bit of money.

"I finished 13th in Kenya and made the cut in Zambia. I am making cuts and playing nicely."