Tom McKibbin finishes fourth at Qatar Masters

Tom McKibbin had to settle for a top-five finish at the Qatar Masters as Rikuya Hoshino took the title at Doha Golf Club.

The Holywood golfer went into the final round just one shot off the lead but his two-under 70 was not enough to secure his second DP World Tour title.

McKibbin reached the turn on level par following a run of nine straigh birdies, and while he gained two shots on the way in, on the tenth and 16th, it was three shy of the winner's 14-under finish.

France's Ugo Coussaud finished second on 13 under with Scotland's Scott Jamieson taking third a shot further back on one clear of McKibbin's 11-under tally.

FINAL LEADERBOARD

The 27-year-old from Japan was twice a runner-up in Australia at the end of last year.

Hoshino went into the final round tied at the top with Rasmus Hojgaard and Coussaud and the leaderboard remained congested until the six-time Japan Tour winner made a decisive late move.

Jamieson had set the clubhouse target at 12 under after a stunning 65 and Hoshino and Coussard were both on the same mark until Hoshino drove the 16th and made birdie, before holing a 25-footer at the next to seemingly put the result beyond doubt.

There was still time for Coussaud to add an element of tension at the last as he made birdie from 10 feet to leave his playing partner needing to convert from four feet for par to avoid a play-off, which he duly managed.

The victory makes Hoshino the first Japanese winner of the event, and only the fourth player from his country to win in DP World Tour history after Isao Aoki, Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune.

The result also moves him comfortably inside the top 100 of the world rankings.

"I'm honoured to win at this wonderful tournament," he said. "I was second at the last two