A week after a frustrating performance in Abu Dhabi, Michael Hoey raised his game to work out a joint-12th place finish in the Qatar Masters at Doha Golf Club. He wasn’t really a threat to challenge medalist Paul Lawrie, but he did keep his game together amidst windy conditions that severely tested others and resulted in the event’s shortening to 54 holes.
Hoey, as is his style, mixed a large number of birdies with bogeys to finish the event six strokes under par at 210 (71-71-68). The second round saw him at his most frenetic – he went out two over par, with a triple bogey muddying the picture, and then came in three under par, finishing with an eagle-3 at 18.
Sunday’s round saw a nice run up the leaderboard, as Hoey began with birdies at five of the first 11 holes. Although catching Lawrie was out of the realm of possibility, Hoey then stumbled with bogeys at 14 and 17 before a closing birdie at 18. He ended up nine strokes behind the Scot, who enjoyed a 4-stroke victory that would have been wider had he not incurred a penalty for misplacing his ball on the green.
The trio of Peter Lawrie, Graeme McDowell and Damien McGrane also made the cut, although they brought up the rear. Lawrie, who shot rounds of 71, 73 and 71, and McDowell (73-72-70) shared 59th place with six others similarly ensconced at 215. McGrane overcame a first-round 78 with 67 the next time out to ensure that he would play the third and final round, in which he shot 73. His 218 left him tied for 73rd place.
Gareth Maybin missed the cut by a stroke after rounds of 76 and 70, as did Paul McGinley and Shane Lowry who both came in with 75 and 71.
