Golf Roundup: Hoey win in Austria

Always in the mix from Thursday’s tee-off, Hoey kept his composure on Sunday, with only one blip, a bogey at the fourth hole. His largest personal challenge came Saturday, when he played the front nine to even par, then suffered a double-bogey on 10. He responded, though, with four birdies and an eagle-3 at 18 to sleep on.
“There were points [Saturday] when I would never have thought I was going to shoot 67,” Hoey said. “I kind of let things get to me, started to think about things too much, just like I had done in Garda earlier in the season, and my caddie had a really strong word with me after I three putted the seventh and that calmed me down.
“It was make or break for me after [the 10th] because it was a real shock to the system and I had to tell myself to relax and think less about what was going on around me and try to enjoy it a bit more. I didn’t know when the first win was going to come. This golf course is awesome and I am already thinking about The European Tour event here next year.”

Hoey shot 265 (67-64-67-67) to better Steven Jeppesen by a stroke. He now stands third on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit and is assured of a place on the 2006 European Tour, which goes to each of the top 20 finishers in 2005.
Also angling for one of those European Tour cards for next year is David Higgins, who finds himself in seventh position. He tied for 59th at Fontana, shooting 286 (70-69-76-71). Missing the cut were Colm Moriarty, 143 (72-71), and David P. Jones, 155 (78-77). A 36-hole score of 140 or better qualified for the weekend.

NATIONWIDE TOUR
Keith Nolan proved that last week’s showing was no fluke by following with a joint seventh-place finish in the Alberta Classic at Redwood Meadows in Calgary. His 280 (68-68-73-71) was four strokes under par and five behind champion Peter Tomasulo. Nolan pocketed $14,025. Richard Coughlan got a piece of 38th place, firing 287 (73-69-70-75). His cut came to $2,115.

EUROPEAN TOUR
Damien McGrane grabbed a piece of 15th place in the Omega Masters at Crans Montana in Switzerland. At 278 (68-71-74-65), he was six strokes under par and eight off Sergio Garcia’s winning number.
McGrane had a Jekyll and Hyde sort of round on Saturday. He went out in 33, thanks to two eagles, but then came home in 41, with bogeys at 11, 12, 13 and 16, along with a double bogey at 15. Sunday saw a return to form, with six birdies and no blemishes on his card.
Peter Lawrie finished joint 23rd at 280 (68-69-75-68). Gary Murphy, 144 (72-72), missed the cut by a stroke. Joining him on the sidelines were Stephen Browne, 145 (71-74), Philip Walton, 154 (79-75), and Shaun Stapleton, 156 (77-79).

CHAMPIONS TOUR
The mature set teed off at Pebble Beach, where the Wal-Mart First Tee Open was held. Mark McNulty took eighth place, with his second-round 73 costing him the victory. His 206 (68-73-65) for 54 holes was just three strokes behind champion Hale Irwin. McNulty’s consolation was $64,000.
Des Smyth made the scene as well, but plummeted down the leader board on Sunday, when he shot 76. He proceeded that with rounds of 69 and 71 for an aggregate 216. He left witah $9,000.

HOOTERS TOUR
Gareth Maybin and Chris Devlin both finished among a group in 49th place in the Langdale Ford Championship at Kinderlou Forest in Valdosta, Ga. Their cards totaled 6-over-par 294 at tourney’s end. Maybin’s rounds went 70-71-78-75, while Devlin carded 71-75-75-73. They earned $842.50 each. Blake Adams’ 278 was good for the victory.