A chip-in birdie on the 72nd hole has earned Western Australian Kathryn Norris a share of second at the Webex Players Series South Australia hosted by Greg Blewett.

Playing in the final group with 54-hole leader Brett Rankin at Willunga Golf Course, Norris hit a brilliant approach to set up birdie at the par-4 second and then had a share of the lead at 12-under after a second birdie at the par-4 sixth.

A poor third shot led to a bogey at the par-5 ninth and then a second bogey at 10 sent her score in the wrong direction, eventual champion Jack Buchanan charging to the top of the leaderboard with a course-record 8-under 62.

Buchanan’s 14-under total gave him a three-stroke victory for his second Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia win in three weeks, Norris (69) finishing in a flurry to share second with Victorian Phoenix Campbell (64) and Hunter Valley’s Corey Lamb (68).

Tied for 30th at Webex Players Series Hunter Valley earlier this year, Sunday’s result is the best finish of Norris’s career, the 23-year-old somewhat surprised by how comfortable she felt in the spotlight of the final group.

“Surprisingly I felt really calm and felt like I could trust my technique today,” said Norris, who will now head to Brisbane to again caddie for partner Jordan Doull at the Queensland PGA Championship.

“I wasn’t anxious or anything, which isn’t normally like me, so I’ve definitely turned the corner.

“Made a couple of bogeys, which was a shame. One bad shot and one tricky hole and then it’s easy done. But still very happy.”

Admitting that her ball-striking wasn’t at the level necessary to open up birdie opportunities, Norris was thrilled to finish on such a positive note in front of the Willunga spectators.

“I didn't really have much happen on the back nine, so it's always nice when something big happens on the last one in front of a crowd,” she added.

New Zealand’s Hanee Song closed with a round of 2-under 68 to finish in a share of 25th, Danni Vasquez Boyd (72) was 44th and Amelia Mehmet-Grohn (74) was 52nd.

Informed on Friday night that she is exempt for the ISPS HANDA Women’s Australian Open at Kingston Heath and Victoria golf clubs, Norris will next tee it up at the Women’s NSW Open Regional Qualifier at Mollymook Golf Club from November 6-7.