Hoey still has a chance in Brittany
Stephen Browne and Colm Moriarty produced a barrage of birdies as Michael Hoey remained in the hunt at the AGF-Allianz Open Côtes d’Armor Bretagne on the European Challenge Tour.
Moriarty went to the turn in a nightmare 39 before storming home in 30 for a superb 69 to lie a shot better than Browne (68) on one-over par.
Hoey remains Ireland's best hope after a one-over 71 left him just three behind Sweden’s Andreas Högberg on one-under par with fellow Ulsterman Gareth Maybin tied 17th on level after a 70.
Browne’s two under par 68 bought him some valuable extra time in bed after he was forced to get up at dawn for a 7.38 am tee time.
Three birdies and a solitary bogey guaranteed Browne his first sub-70 round of the €140,000 European Challenge Tour event.
Browne said: “I struck the ball really well today, particularly with my approach shots, and I could have shot much lower. But I’m still happy with the way I played – mainly because it hopefully buys me a few more hours in bed tomorrow morning!”
The performance of the day came from Glasson man Moriarty, who had five bogeys on his opening nine holes.
Moriarty said: “I shot 29 once before so it’s not my lowest score for nine holes, but I’ll certainly take it. I’m not really sure where it came from, but I got into a nice rhythm and after a few putts dropped, suddenly I couldn’t miss. It’s probably come a bit too late for this tournament, but at least it bodes well for the rest of the season.”
A quintet of Brits are amongst seven players one shot behind Högberg at the top of a packed leaderboard.
Scotland’s David Drysdale joined Englishmen Andrew Butterfield, Stuart Davis, David Horsey and Robert Rock on three under par.
Having opened the tournament on Wednesday with a triple bogey seven, Rock – the club professional at The Belfry – did not expect to be in contention with 18 holes left to play.
He said: “All sorts of things were going through my head at that point – like would I even make the cut. So to be in with a shout is a surprise – but a nice surprise.”
Högberg, the latest youngster off the production of Swedish golfing talent, was on course to establish a comfortable lead, until his charge was derailed when a hooked drive led to a lost ball and a triple bogey eight at the 14th hole.
He said: “My hands were shaking and my head was swimming after that, so I was happy to play the last three holes well and even finish with a birdie. I’ve never led going into the final round before, so it’s a new experience for me – but I’m looking forward to it.”
Högberg will play in the final group with compatriot Joakim Haeggman, whose career has been seemingly rejuvenated by his decision to revert back to his former coach Simon Holmes.
The former Ryder Cup player shot a 67 – the lowest round of the day – to finish on three under par, along with Australia’s Andrew Tampion.
AGF-Allianz Open Côtes d'Armor Bretagne, Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André (Par 70)
206 A Högberg (Swe) 68 68 70;
207 J Haegmann (Swe) 66 74 67; S Davis (Eng) 69 70 68; A Butterfield (Eng) 68 68 71; R Rock (Eng) 68 69 70; D Drysdale (Sco) 65 72 70; A Tampion (Aus) 71 66 70; D Horsey (Eng) 68 69 70
208 A Tadini (Ita) 72 68 68; N Colsaerts (Bel) 69 65;
209 T Remkes (Ned) 73 69 67; C Brazillier (Fra) 69 72 68; G Boyd (Eng) 71 69 68; M Hoey (NIR) 66 72 71; J McLeary (Sco) 68 70 71; M Higley (Eng) 72 66 71;
210 O Whiteley (Eng) 71 72 67; A S Hansen (Den) 71 72 67; M Zions (Aus) 67 75 68; A Bruschi (Ita) 69 73 68; M Pilkington (Wal) 70 71 69; A Gee (Eng) 70 70 70; G Maybin (NIR) 72 68 70; R Ramsay (Sco) 70 70 70; J Wahlqvist (Swe) 71 68 71;
211 J-N Billot (Fra) 71 71 69; C Moriarty (Irl) 68 74 69; N Vanhootegem (Bel) 73 67 71; M Dieu (Fra) 71 69 71;
212 S Browne (Ire) 75 69 68; T Schuster (Ger) 71 73 68; R Coles (Eng) 72 70 70; L Dodd (Eng) 73 69 70; S Son-Houi (Fra) 70 71 71; G Clark (Eng) 65 76 72; J Garcia (Esp) 71 69 72; C-E Russo (Fra) 66 72 74;
213 J Clément (Sui) 72 72 69; G Canizares (Esp) 75 69 69; G A Clark (Eng) 71 73 69; K Sullivan (Wal) 74 69 70; E Ramsay (Sco) 73 70 70; C Menut (Fra) 71 72 70; R Bland (Eng) 68 75 70; J Theunis (Bel) 70 72 71; D Park (Wal) 71 70 72; C Gane (Eng) 70 71 72; G Davies (Eng) 69 72 72;
214 J Guerrier (Fra) 68 75 71; A Marshall (Eng) 68 75 71; G Murray (Sco) 68 74 72; J Van Hauwe (Fra) 70 69 75;
215 A Snobeck (Fra) 75 69 71; S Delagrange (Fra) 73 71 71; B Mason (Eng) 71 73 71; J Xanthopoulous (Fra) 70 74 71; M Thorp (Nor) 74 69 72; S O’Hara (Sco) 69 74 72; E Goya (Arg) 70 66 79;
216 W Besseling (Ned) 69 75 72; F Henge (Swe) 71 72 73; R Treis (Ger) 71 70 75;
217 M Reale (Ita) 73 71 73; T Feyrsinger (Aut) 72 71 74;
218 R McEvoy (Eng) 69 75 74; S Benson (Eng) 72 69 77; S P Webster (Eng) 68 71 79;
219 F Cupillard (Sui) 74 70 71; N Joakimides (Fra) 71 71 77