Golf: Campbell finishes third

Michael Campbell has returned from the golfing wilderness with his first top 10 finish in four years.

The 2005 US Open champion carded a three under par 68 in the final round of the Portugal Masters to finish third in the European Tour event.

The 43-year-old, who was ranked 607 in the world coming into the event, had rounds of 68, 69, 67 and 68 for a 12 under par total at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Club.

Campbell finished only two shots back from Ireland's Shane Lowry, who shot a five under par 66 in the final round to win by one from England's Ross Fisher.

Campbell made the turn at two under after three birdies and a bogey. He got to three under for the day and within touch of the lead, but then made back-to-back bogeys on 13 and 14 to hurt his title hopes.

But he bounced back with birdies on the 15th and 17th for his first top 10 finish since 2008. It was also the first time he has recorded four rounds in the 60s for nine years.

Campbell earned $223,000 for his efforts, climbing to 86th on the Race to Dubai standings. He needs to finish inside the top 60 to qualify for the Dubai World Championship.

It is a long awaited return to form for the eight-time European Tour champion, who has not won on tour since claiming the World Match Play title in 2005.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, New Zealand No 1 Danny Lee faded to finish in a share of 16th place at the Frys.com Open as he fights for his PGA Tour card.

The 21-year-old Rotorua professional, who began the final round in a share of seventh place, climbed two places to 167th on the PGA Tour money list. He needs to jump inside the top 125 in the final two events of the Fall Series to keep his tour card.

Lee signed for rounds of 69, 67, 67 and 71 for a 10 under par total at the CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, California to finish six shots back from Sweden's Jonas Blixt.

Lee has made the cut in 11 out of 22 events on the PGA Tour in 2012 and his performance in California usurps his previous best result for the season - a tie for 19th place at the Byron Nelson Championship in May.

Closer to home, Michael Hendry secured his best finish on the OneAsia Tour for 2012.

The 33-year-old North Harbour professional carded a three under par 68 in the final round of the Nanshan China Masters to finish in seventh place.

The 2010 Indonesian Open champion had rounds of 72, 73, 67 and 68 for a four under par 280 total to finish four shots back.

Hendry made five birdies and two bogeys in a final round effort that saw him earn $41,000 and climb to 33rd on the OneAsia Order of Merit after seven events.

Wellington professional Mark Brown birdied four of the last five holes to sign for a five under par 66 and a share of 11th place. He earned $27,000 for his week in China and is ninth on the OneAsia Order of Merit after earning $127,000 from six events in 2012.