Michael Hoey signed off with a two-under-par 70 to grab a top-30 finish at the La Vaudreuil Golf Challenge in France.
The Northern Irishman’s round uncluded five birdies good enough for a six-under tournament total, resulting in a share of 26th spot after a solid week at Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil.
Unfortunately the story of the day from an Irish point of view was a sad one as Gavin Moynihan’s hopes blew up on Sunday.
The Dubliner couldn’t get anything going and added two bogeys and a double to a birdie-less card, falling 23 places down the leaderboard into a tie for 28th at five-under-par.
Of the other two Irishmen who made the weekend cut, Rosapenna’s Ruaidhri McGee snuck into a top-50 finish on one-under-par; his plus one 72 proving good enough for a share of 47th.
While Old Conna’s Neil O’Briain returned a two-over-par 73 for a share of 55th spot on two-over.
Richard McEvoy secured a fantastic wire-to-wire victory by posting a three-under-par final day 68 at Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil.
The Englishman finished on 18-under-par for the week, two clear of compatriot and nearest challenger Steven Tiley, whose five-under 66 wasn’t quite enough to displace McEvoy, who led from day one.
Tiley posted the low round of the week on Saturday, a blemish-free 62, which was enough to make McEvoy know it wasn’t going to be easy on the final day, but the 2005 Panasonic Panama Open winner showed great poise and maturity to secure a sensational victory.
McEvoy is delighted to be back in the winners’ circle and insists there is no better confidence boost that winning tournaments.
“I’m delighted; really, really pleased,” he said. “Steve ran me hard today. I had a good lead going into the back nine and he made a good birdie at 12 and I made a mistake at 13 and it was then within two and then he hit some great shots coming in.
“15 was the changing point for me. I holed a fantastic putt for par to stay two clear and then we both hit it very close at the next to make birdies. I’m over the moon.
“I’ve got a little more belief in my game at the moment, which is great. Nothing beats winning for your confidence.
“Even if you’re playing well and getting good finishes, winning a tournament and finishing it off down the stretch is always great for your confidence. To do it wire-to-wire this week, leading from Day One, has pleased me even more so I’m really chuffed.”
The 39-year-old had high praise for the golf course in Le Vaudreuil, particularly after torrential rainfall on Friday and is now hoping to kick on from his victory.
“It’s a great golf course,” he said. “It’s been set up very tough this week and very well, exactly like a European Tour event would be with the thick rough.
“The course has held up really well with the conditions we’ve had, especially the heavy rain on Friday. The green staff have done really a really good job there.
“Fingers crossed I can roll on now and get myself back on the European Tour full-time and try and stay there this time.”
Tiley’s second place is his best result on the European Challenge Tour for two years and he was followed by two-time Challenge Tour winner Borja Virto, who came third on 12-under-par.
Behind the Spaniard came Antoine Rozner, who finished as best Frenchman, Daan Huizing, Marco Iten and Christopher Mivis on 11 under.
A year on from winning the Silver Medal at The Open Championship, Alfie Plant secured his best-ever finish on Europe’s top developmental tour, finishing tied eighth on ten under par alongside six players including James Erkenbeck, Ewen Ferguson and Nicolai Von Dellingshausen.
The victory moves McEvoy up to 20th on the Road to Ras Al Khaimah from his previous position of 117th, while Tiley jumps 59 places to 29th.
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