CHALLENGE TOUR:Michael Hoey's one-shot victory at the Banque Populaire Morroccan Classic yesterday made it a double for Ireland after Peter Lawrie's win at the Spanish Open earlier in the day.
Hoey held his nerve and survived a late charge from overnight leader Greig Hutcheon of Scotland to secure a third Challenge Tour title which saw him climb to sixth in the rankings.
The man from Belfast, who looked to be cruising to victory until he dropped shots on the 14th and 16th holes at El Jadida Sofitel Golf Resort, birdied the 17th for a round of 68 and a 12-under-par aggregate score to finish one clear of Hutcheon and France's Julien Quesne.
Hoey, a former British Amateur Champion and a member of the triumphant 2001 Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team, has now set his sights on a top five finish in the rankings and a return to the full European Tour.
The 29-year-old said: "My short game was very good today, and it has been all week. Chipping and putting well normally wins you golf tournaments, and so it proved. I didn't think I would win today because Greig's been playing well and I started the round a few shots back, so it was a nice surprise.
"I came into the tournament in good form after a decent finish in France last week, so my confidence is slowly returning.
"Seeing the likes of Damien McGrane and Darren Clarke win recently has made me even more determined to earn my place back on the European Tour. This is the first major step on that road."
PGA TOUR: Anthony Kim moved closer towards his first PGA Tour victory when he opened a huge lead halfway through the final round at the Wachovia Championship yesterday.
Kim, who started the day with a four-shot advantage, used a hot putter to extend his lead to six strokes after nine holes in pleasant conditions at Quail Hollow.
He picked up four birdies in a bogey-free outward half to turn at 17-under, while fellow American Ben Curtis was a distant second at 11-under after 15 holes.
LYTHAM TROPHY:Shane Lowry confirmed his credentials as a Walker Cup prospect with a gritty performance on the final day of the Lytham Trophy yesterday.
The 21-year-old from Esker Hills fired a closing 69 which, coupled with his morning's 72, left him in joint second on six over par and two shots behind England's Matthew Haines, at 18 the youngest winner of the tournament.
Conditions at Royal Lytham were almost as testing as the previous day when a strong wind buffeted the links. Lowry dropped five strokes on his opening nine holes of the third round, before picking up three birdies on the way back.
Niall Kearney will take some positives back to his home club, Royal Dublin, where the Irish Amateur Open Championship starts on Friday. A closing 74 added to his 73 gave him a share of 15th place.
WELSH LADIES:Niamh Kitching took a gigantic stride towards securing a place in Ireland's side for July's European Team Championship when she finished joint runner-up yesterday in the Welsh Ladies Open at Pyle and Kenfig, Porthcawl.
The 23-year-old University of Limerick student, who plays out of Claremorris, will be in good heart for the Irish Women's Close Championship being held next week in her home county at Westport.
She had been in pole position to capture the Welsh title when she led the field by four strokes going into yesterday's third and final round.
Kitchings total of 232 gave her a share of second place with Hannah Barwood, four shots behind Welsh winner Rhian Wyn Thomas.
