Hoey wins Estoril Open in playoff

2009-04-05

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CASCAIS, PORTUGAL (AP) —Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland won a playoff against Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano on Sunday to earn his first victory on the European Tour at the Estoril Open.

Hoey secured the win on the third playoff hole after both players finished tied with a 7-under score of 277 at the Oitavos Dunes course.

Both players sank tricky par putts to stay level over the first two holes before Fernandez-Castano missed from 12 feet to give Hoey the initiative at No. 17. Hoey then sank an eight-footer for par and the victory.

“I didn’t really think about winning but I had all the breaks and it really was my day. It’s totally a life changing moment, it’s amazing really. If I can keep this mentality going it’s definitely the way forward,” said the 30-year-old Hoey, who carded four birdies in the first 10 holes on his way to a joint-best 5-under 66.

Fernandez-Castano, who lost in sudden death for the first time, had a bogey-free day and four birdies in windy conditions to shoot a 4-under score of 67 to reach the playoff.

But Hoey denied the Spaniard a fourth career win to take the ?208,330 ($208,330) first prize at the ?1.25 million ($1.67 million) event.

Italy’s Francesco Molinari (68) finished one shot back at 6-under for third, while England’s Paul Broadhurst (73), Jamie Donaldson (72) of Wales and Mikael Lundberg of Sweden all finished 5-under for the tournament.

Broadhurst, who led by one going into the final round, started with three bogeys at the first five holes and fell behind the leaders after carding a double-bogey at the par-5 13th.