Michael Hoey wins Trophée Hassan II

Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey fired a superb closing round of 65 to win the Trophée Hassan II at the Golf du Palais Royal in Morocco by three shots from Damien McGrane of Ireland.

Michael Hoey wins Trophee Hassan II (Getty Images)
Fergus Bisset
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Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey fired a superb closing round of 65 to win the Trophée Hassan II at the Golf du Palais Royal in Morocco by three shots from Damien McGrane of Ireland.

Hoey began the third round on just three-under-par and was nowhere near threatening the top of the leaderboard. But he posted an excellent third round 65 that put him into contention. He then followed up with a repeat of that score on Sunday.

Hoey started the last round two shots behind McGrane and Italy's Matteo Manassero. The young Italian needed a victory in this event to have a chance of making it to the US Masters.

But it was Hoey who raced out of the blocks with five birdies in the first eight holes. By the time he reached the turn in just 31 strokes, he was leading.

Manassero crumbled with a front nine of 38 while McGrane, although steady, was unable to match the fireworks of Hoey. The Northern Irishman suffered a slight blip with a bogey at the 10th hole but birdies at the 14th, 15th and 17th sealed the deal.

When McGrane bogeyed the 17th hole, Hoey was left with a three shot cushion going up the 72nd hole. He calmly made a regulation par and the title was his.

McGrane finished alone in second place while Jamie Donaldson, who posted a course record of 61 in the final round, tied for third with fellow Welshman Philip Price and Robert Coles of England.

Matteo Manassero eventually finished on 12-under-par in a tie for sixth place.

Trophée Hassan II Golf du Palais Royal, Agadir, Morocco Mar 22-25, purse €1,500,000 par 72

1   Michael Hoey (NIR)   74   67   65   65   271   €250,000 2   Damien McGrane (Ire)   65   68   71   70   274   €166,660 T3   Jamie Donaldson (Wal)   72   68   74   61   275   €77,500 T3   Robert Coles (Eng)   73   70   65   67   275   €77,500 T3   Philip Price (Wal)      68   66   72   69   275   €77,500 T6   Edoardo Molinari (Ita)   68   70   71   67   276   €45,000 T6   Keith Horne (RSA)   69   70   70   67   276   €45,000 T6   Matteo Manassero (Ita)   69   70   65   72   276   €45,000 T9   Hennie Otto (RSA)   69   69   70   69   277   €28,230 T9   Ignacio Garrido (Esp)   69   71   69   68   277   €28,230 T9   Pablo Larrazabal (Esp)   74   68   67   68   277   €28,230 T9   James Kingston (RSA)   70   67   70   70   277   €28,230 T9   Jose Manuel Lara (Esp)   70   65   70   72   277   €28,230

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage

Where next? PGA Tour - Tiger Woods wins Arnold Palmer Invitational

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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