JUSTIN Rose finished fifth at the WGC-HSBC Champions yesterday, a result that leaves him third in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai standings.

The Hook golfer was in contention throughout the tournament at Sheshan Golf Club, in Shanghai, getting under way with an opening round of 68 (-4) to sit three shots off the lead at the end of the first day.

He fell back slightly after carding 71 (-1) on the second day, but an excellent seven-under-par third round of 65 saw him move up to fourth. Rose was in especially good form over the closing 11 holes, making an eagle three at the par-five eighth before making a further five birdies to move within six shots of the lead.

A bogey-free closing round of 68 (-4) saw the former Robert May’s School pupil drop one position yesterday, finishing fifth on -16, eight shots behind winner Dustin Johnson.

Rose is in action again this weekend, taking part in the Turkish Airlines Open, at Montgomerie Maxx Royal, in Turkey, which gets under way on Thursday.

The tournament is the penultimate event in this year’s Race to Dubai – and Rose still has a chance of winning with good performances over the next two weeks.

Basingstoke golfer Stuart Archibald remains in with a chance of reaching the final stage of European Tour Qualifying School, but he needs to play well over the next two days.

The Worting man is currently playing in the second stage of qualifying at Lumine Golf and Beach Club, in Tarragona, Spain.

He got off to a fine start, a four-under-par round of 67 putting him among the leaders after one round.

However, Archibald admitted he was “disgusted” with the way he played on day two, a four-over-par round of 75 leaving him on level par at the halfway stage, four shots outside the top-15 place he needs to book a return to Spain for final qualifying next week.