SWINDON golfer David Howell is still searching for his first win of the year after a bogey on the last hole of the Volvo China Open cost him the title.

The Broome Manor pro went into the last hole of the weekend level with China’s Ashun Wu but a poor second shot left him in trouble and he ended up just short with a par score of 70.

The Swindon ace moved to eight-under going into the final day of play following his second round of 68 of the week yesterday.

Howell started the round in the perfect manner as he secured an early birdie on the second hole.

The Swindon player dropped back a shot with a bogey on the par four fourth but was soon back to eight under with another birdie on the sixth.

Howell had a one shot advantage over Wu going into the eighth hole but another dropped shot cost him. Despite getting an immediate response with a birdie on the ninth he shared the lead with the local fan favourite turning down the back nine.

The 39-year-old began to turn the screw as he hit a mammoth put on the 11th hole to secure a birdie and hand him the out-right lead again.

Things swung back in favour of Wu on the 14th as he managed to salvage a par from a poor second shot. Howell recorded his third bogey of the week on the par four hole to let his lead slip.

A poor tee shot on the par three 17th left Howell in trouble in the bunker, but he hit a perfect chip shot for a par to keep him the joint leadership going into the last.

A wayward second shot on the 18th left Howell in trouble and, after leaving his third shot short of the green, he left himself with a nine foot putt to force the play-off, but he pulled the shot left and handed the title to Wu.