Adrian Otaegui found it easy to take the positives from finishing second to Alexander Björk at the Volvo China Open.
The Spaniard has been a picture of consistency this season, making all eight cuts to extend his run to 12, sealing his best finish this week with a worst placing of a tie for 40th.
He claimed his maiden European Tour title at last season's Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play and was just one off the lead stood on the 17th tee at Topwin Golf & Country Club.
A three-putt bogey meant his birdie on the last was not enough to get him into a play-off, but the 25 year old was delighted to be in contention again.
"Very happy with the way I played again," he said. "The way I felt on the course, I felt very relaxed and enjoyed it a lot. I'm very happy with a 67 on Sunday and happy with a second place.
"The lie on the third shot (on the 18th) it was just perfect. I hit a three wood left and I knew that the good spot to miss was left there. I could have a free drop and the lie was perfect.
"It was a 35 metre shot and the difficult part is that when the ball was going to the hole it was down so I managed to make a good up-and-down there."
Matt Wallace shared the lead after three rounds alongside Otaegui and, like his playing partner, knew an eagle on the last would have seen him in a play-off.
He made a par and could not hide his his frustration after finishing in a tie for third at 16 under.
"It's gutting," he said. "I hit probably one of the best shots I've ever hit into that last hole, got no lie, no shot, and then missed the putt and finished third.
"I played great and when you play great you want to win. You want to know you can win.
"I'll learn from it, I'll come back stronger again but it's hard to take right now."
A spectacular chip-in eagle on the 15th got Jorge Campillo to 16 under and into a share of the lead but the Spaniard could not apply any further pressure on the leaders.
"It was good," he said. "A tough start, I played okay but I missed by clubs and I missed putts but a great back nine. It's a little short of winning but it's a good back nine.
"It was a great week. I didn't play that well in Morocco and here I played well again so I'm ready for the next tournament. Hopefully next time I can win."
Jordan Smith had set the early target at 16 under thanks to a brilliant 64 and the Englishman is hopeful he can use his best finish of 2018 as a springboard for the rest of the season.
"I'm chuffed," he said. "I've been playing well all week, I just got the putter going today. The whole day, if I got myself out of position I was holing out really well.
"The last two weeks I've been hitting it really well, just been struggling from 12 feet and in but, especially today, I got it going.
"I'm over the moon and chuffed with how the game is looking going into the main half of the season."
