Richie Ramsay's rehabilitation from injury gathered pace as he claimed a joint runners-up finish in the European Tour's dual-ranking NH Collection Open at Sotogrande on the Costa del Sol.

The Aberdonian, in only his second competitive appearance since last November's Turkish Airlines Open, having been sidelined with a niggling ankle problem, closed with a four-under 68 for an eight-under 280 and finished two shots behind Italian winner Marco Crespi.

After a solid 11th place in his comeback event in Morocco last month, Ramsay is very much back on track as he looks to make up for lost time. It could have been better for the Scot, however, and he was left cursing a double-bogey midway through his round which cost him dear in the final analysis.

Ramsay had surged out of the blocks with five birdies on his opening seven holes, which thrust him to the top but the momentum was halted with a crippling six on the ninth. Ramsay, a two-time winner on the European Tour, responded with a birdie on 10 but could not make any further inroads on the home stretch.

Marc Warren, who led at halfway but dropped back with a third round 75, recovered with a closing 68 for a 282 to share sixth and earn his first top 10 of 2014. Jamie McLeary shared 20th.