Golf:Michael Hoey claimed his second European Tour title today with a two-stroke victory at the Madeira Islands Open. The Antrim man, who had shared the overnight lead with Jamie Elson, added to his score with birdies at the eighth and 14th holes.
His only blemish came with a dropped shot on the par-three 13th, but a final round of 71 saw him finish clear of his rivals on 10 under for the tournament. Elson had to settle for a share of second place with compatriot Chris Gane after posting three birdies against four bogeys on the final day.
Gane enjoyed a strong finish with three birdies on the back nine lifting his score to one under for the day and eight under overall. Italy’s Frederico Colombo led a group of three players tied for fourth on six under. Colombo produced one of the rounds of the day with seven birdies, but a double bogey on the par-four fourth marred his final round of 67.
Home favourite Jose-Filipe Lima finished level with Colombo following a four-under 68, including three birdies over the back nine, while Scotland’s Lloyd Saltman completed the trio with his score of two under on the final day.
Further down the field, Simon Wakefield missed out on becoming the first player to shoot a 59 on the European Tour.
The 37-year-old needed an eagle at the par-five last to achieve the feat, but a double-bogey seven meant he carded a 63, which left him one under par for the tournament.
Wakefield had kicked off his extraordinary round with an eagle three at the third and then rattled off four straight birdies between the fifth and eighth holes. Three more followed in a row at the start of the back nine and two more at 14 and 17 put him in position to make history, but his run was stopped on the 18th green.
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