Connor collects another top 10 finish on Spanish trail

Connor concluded with a seven over par total of 291, five strokes behind the winner, 29-year-old John Catlin, of California.

Connor shot a first-round 69, along with Guido Migliozzi, Jorge Campillo and Catlin, to share pole position.

A 72 in the second round at the windswept Sotogrande course kept Connor well in contention, as a birdie and two par levellers on the last three holes preseved his joint second place, just a couple of strokes behind Catlin.

Round three was to prove his downfall with a 76 but he recaptured some of the lost ground on the final hurl with a 74 – and another finish in the first 10.

It was nevertheless a reasonable dress rehearsal for Connor’s next assignment, the US Open, which begins in New York on September 17.

Connor (25) tweeted at the end of the Spanish tournament: “Loved the challenge Valderrama gave us again this week. Not the weekend I wanted but another top 10. US open next up – United States, let’s go.”