Despite a disappointing finish to his third round, Michael Hoey remains well in contention for his second consecutive Challenge Tour title at the Allianz Golf Open de Toulouse.

Despite a disappointing finish to his third round, Michael Hoey remains well in contention for his second consecutive Challenge Tour title at the Allianz Golf Open de Toulouse.

The 28-year-old, who led the tournament with five holes to play, ended his third round at the Golf de Toulouse-Seilh with a bogey at the par five 14th hole, another bogey on the par four 16th and then a double bogey on the par five 17th before a redemptional birdie at the 207 yard par three 18th.

That left Hoey on nine under par for the week, just two behind leader Nicolas Vanhootegem of Belgium.

Hoey leads a strong Irish challenge in Toulouse, with Colm Moriarty a stroke behind Hoey on eight under after a third round 70 took him to eight under, while Stephen Brown remains five under after a level par 72.