Worldwide Golf

NORTHERN Ireland’s Michael Hoey won his first European Tour title at the expense of current British Masters champion Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano at the Estoril Open de Portugal.

Hoey held his nerve to beat the Spaniard on the third extra hole as he knocked in a six-foot par putt following Fernandez-Castano’s bogey.

Both players twice made par on the 18th in the play-off before they switched to the 17th. The pair made the edge of the green in two but Hoey got down in two to claim the title after Fernandez-Castano missed his par putt.

Hoey began the final round five shots back but shot a best-of-the-day 5-under 66 in tough windy conditions.

“I did not really think about winning going out, but I was lucky - I got all the breaks,” said Hoey, a former British Amateur champion. “It’s a life-changing moment, it’s amazing really. If I can keep this mentality going I can really move forward. It’s not going to sink in yet. It’s a bit of a dream that I will cherish for a long time, and I’d just like to thank everyone who has supported me over the years.”

Fernandez-Castano shot a 67 to also get to 7-under while overnight leader Paul Broadhurst stumbled to a 2-over 73 and drop into a tie for fourth place alongside Welshman Jamie Donaldson and Swede Mikael Lundberg. Italian Francesco Molinari finished alone in third place one shot back from the leaders.