A FRUSTRATING final round played out in difficult conditions scuppered Eddie Pepperell’s chances of victory at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

The Abingdon golfer carded a four-over par 76 to end the tournament tied for 11th as high winds and showers caused havoc at the Emirates GC.

It saw the Frilford Heath member finish on four-under overall, five shots off the winner, Australian Lucas Herbert.

The 29-year-old, playing alongside American Bryson DeChambeau, came into the final day tied for sixth following a solid level-par third round.

But bogeys at the first two holes saw Pepperell slip down the leaderboard and he struggled to recover.

Five consecutive pars were followed by another dropped shot at the eighth and he reached the turn at five-under.

A bogey at the 11th saw Pepperell fall further back, before a fourth birdie of the week at the 13th gave indications of a resurgence at the final holes.

But he bogeyed the 14th to drop back to four-over for the day.

A birdie at the par-three 15th was followed by another dropped shot at the next hole, before Pepperell finished with two pars.

Several other front-runners were over-par in their final rounds due to the elements, but it nonetheless soured what had been a positive week for the world number 61.

The Abingdon golfer had been the outright leader after 36 holes, thanks to an excellent second round of five-under par.

It marked the first time the Abingdon golfer had made the cut in 2020, after he failed to reach the weekend in Abu Dhabi and South Africa earlier this month.

Pepperell also recorded comfortably his best finish at the event, outstripping his tie for 38th last year.