Galgorm Castle’s Joshua Hill closed with a four-under-par 68 to finish solo second behind 54-hole leader Martin Couvra of France in the South African Stroke Play Championship at Mount Edgecombe Country Club.

The Ballymena talent, who was four strokes behind Couvra starting the day, went out in four-under-par on the Lakes Course to remain four adrift before making two birdies and two bogeys in the back nine.

World No 92 Couvra covered the same stretch in two-under, to close with a six-under 66 and win by six strokes from Hill on 15-under par.

Malone’s Matthew McClean, the reigning US Mid-Amateur champion, closed with a 72 to finish tied eighth on three-under.

Naas’ Robert Brazill (73) tied for 22nd on three-over with Royal Dublin’s Hugh Foley (74() and Castle’s Robert Moran (73) tied for 26th on five-over.

Royal Dublin’s Richard Knightly (74) was 34th on seven-over with Douglas’ Peter O’Keeffe (76) tied 40th on nine-over.

South African Stroke Play Championship, Mount Edgecombe Country Club (Lakes Course, Par 72)

Final scores