Moor Park golfer Matt Wallace responded to a disappointing end to his third round to shoot a three-under-par 68 and finish in a share of 38th place at the Rocco Forte Open in Sicily.

The 27-year-old had dropped five shots in the closing two holes in difficult windy conditions on Saturday as he slipped back to even par in his first tournament as a European Tour professional following his victory at the Open de Portugal the previous weekend.

Starting his final 18 holes from the 11th at Verdura Golf Club, Wallace made back-to-back birdies at the par four first and par five second before he picked up a third shot in five holes at the par three fifth.

A fourth birdie of the day came at the par five ninth to move him to four-under – a score that would have been good enough for a tie for 31st – but Wallace slipped back with a bogey on his last hole, the par four 10th.

Having secured his European Tour card less than a fortnight ago, the Pinner-based player is set to return home this week to compete in the star-studded BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth where his Moor Park club-mate Callum Shinkwin is also entered.