Hoey hails his luck in maiden European Tour victory
Hoey defeated Fernandez-Castano at the third play-off hole
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Sunday, 05, Apr 2009 08:36
Northern Ireland golfer Michael Hoey said luck was on his side when edging out Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano in a play-off to win his first European Tour title.
Hoey - a former British amateur champion in 2001 who finished in sixth at Madeira a fortnight ago - defeated his Spanish rival at the third play-off hole after the pair finished the Estoril Portuguese Open on seven under par.
Although five shots back before the day's action began, the Belfast golfer played up his fortune after hitting a round of 66 to top the table with Fernandez-Castano, whom he beat to win a £192,755 prize.
"I did not really think about winning going out, but I was lucky - I got all the breaks," said Hoey.
"I could not believe I was in the play-off, let alone getting up and down, up and down, up and down," the world number 277 added.
Hoey could have avoided a tense finale against the British Masters champion by taking the title on the final green, but his decisive eight-foot put went wide of the mark to leave the pair on seven under.
Italian Francesco Molinari finished third, but Paul Broadhurst - who lead going into the final day - slipped back to fourth, finishing alongside Jamie Donaldson and Mikael Lundberg.