Michael Hoey is quickly adapting to life in the paid ranks and today he displayed his mettle with a fine round of 70 on day three of the Benson and Hedges International Open at the Belfry.
Hoey admitted to feeling nervous when he got off to a slow start on Thursday but since then the former Shandon Park amateur has looked every bit at ease among such esteemed company.
In making his European Tour debut this week Hoey overcame the first hurdle of making the halfway cut. While the more established names of his compatriots, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley, fell by the wayside Hoey qualified on the cut mark with a pair of 73’s.
Despite dropping a shot at the first today, Hoey eased into his stride with back-to-back birdies at the fourth and fifth before adding another at the 15th to get back on level terms with the Brabazon Course.
Hoey has played several times on the Challenge Tour since turning professional after the Masters in April but the 23-year-old hopes to gain more invites to the main Tour like he did this week.
Eamonn Darcy was the only other Irishman to finish his round by lunch and the Druid’s Glen pro will have plenty of time to reflect on a poor round. The 49-year-old carded an 80 and at 10-over was tied for last place.
Des Smyth was halfway through his round and needs much inspiration for the back nine. The 2001 Madeira Open winner dropped four shots and was three-over for the Championship.
Padraig Harrington was the strongest Irish challenger starting the day on three-under. Since then the Dubliner picked up birdies at the second and third to get to five-under and was only one shot behind the leading pack.
The overnight leaders, Colin Montgomerie, Roger Wessels and Greg Owen took to the course only to find they had company on a busy leaderboard. John Daly, Michael Campbell, Barry Lane and Anthony Wall were all tied at the top on six-under in the early part of their rounds.