Maybin third as Haeggman wins again

Ballyclare's Gareth Maybin took a significant step towards earning his European Tour card with a share of third place behind Joakim Haeggman in the AGF-Allianz Open Côtes d’Armor Bretagne on the European Challenge Tour.

The Ulsterman, 27, closed with a two-under par 68 to finish three shots behind the Swedish veteran on two-under par.

Former Irish international Maybin, who was a star of the University of Alabama before taking his first steps in the pro game on the Hooters Tour, earned €7,700 to jump 40 places to 18th on the Challenge Tour rankings.

The top 20 money winners will earn full playing rights on the European Tour at the end of the season and Maybin is well place to pull it off after earning his Challenge Tour card through invitations last seasons.

Haeggman, 38,  made a miraculous up and down for par on the final hole at Golf Blue Green de Pléneuf Val André for a closing 68 to finish on five under par and take the title by one shot from England’s Marcus Higley.

The Swede’s last victory came at the Qatar Masters in 2004 but he lost his card last year , since when a loss of form and fitness has seen him slide down the Rankings and lose his card on The European Tour.

Haeggman said: “I hit a lot of quality shots in the tournament, but it’s still going to take a while for all the different aspects of my game to come together at the same time. This week is the best I’ve played for at least two years, though obviously there’s still room for improvement.  

“But I’ve got my confidence back now, and I feel I can start winning golf tournaments again. It’s not a case of reaching out blindly to find some form – it’s more a case of looking inside to bring out the game I know I have. 

"If I can find it consistently, I know I’m good enough to compete and win again on The European Tour. That’s the ultimate goal, but I’m taking it one week, one day, one shot at a time.”

Higley shot a 67 – the lowest round of the day – to finish on four under par, with his compatriot Stuart Davis, Sweden’s Andreas Högberg, Maybin and Italy’s Allesandro Tadini in a tie for third two shots further back.

Glasson's Colm Moriarty was tied 19th on three over par after a rollercoaster 72 but it was a disappointing final day for Michael Hoey and Stephen Browne.

Ulsterman Hoey slipped from 11th to tied 30th after a closing 76 with Browne's 73 leaving him tied with his stablemate on five-over par.

AGF Allianz, Final Day Scores:
275 J Haegmann (Swe) 66 74 67 68
276 M Higley (Eng) 72 66 71 67
278 G Maybin (NIR) 72 68 70 68; A Tadini (Ita) 72 68 68 70; S Davis (Eng) 69 70 68 71; A Högberg (Swe) 68 68 70 72;  
279 A Gee (Eng) 70 70 70 69; G Clark (Eng) 65 76 72 70; J McLeary (Sco) 68 70 71 70; T Remkes (Ned) 73 69 67 70;     
280 A Butterfield (Eng) 68 68 71 73;
281 R Coles (Eng) 72 70 70 69; R Ramsay (Sco) 70 70 70 71;
282 E Ramsay (Sco) 73 70 70 69; M Pilkington (Wal) 70 71 69 72; N Colsaerts (Bel) 69 65 74; R Rock (Eng) 68 69 70 75; D Horsey (Eng) 68 69 70 75;
283 D Park (Wal) 71 70 72 70; K Sullivan (Wal) 74 69 70 70; G Boyd (Eng) 71 69 68 71; N Vanhootegem (Bel) 73 67 71 72; C Moriarty (Irl) 68 74 69 72; J-N Billot (Fra) 71 71 69 72; J-N Billot (Fra) 71 71 69 72; M Zions (Aus) 67 75 68 73;
284 A Marshall (Eng) 68 75 71 70; C Menut (Fra) 71 72 70 71; J Wahlqvist (Swe) 71 68 71 74; D Drysdale (Sco) 65 72 70 77;
285 R Treis (Ger) 71 70 75 69; J Theunis (Bel) 70 72 71 72; R Bland (Eng) 68 75 70 72; M Dieu (Fra) 71 69 71 74; S Browne (Ire) 75 69 68 73; T Schuster (Ger) 71 73 68 73; M Hoey (NIR) 66 72 71 76; C Brazillier (Fra) 69 72 68 76; A Tampion (Aus) 71 66 70 78;
286 C Gane (Eng) 70 71 72 73; G A Clark (Eng) 71 73 69 76; C-E Russo (Fra) 66 72 74 74; A Bruschi (Ita) 69 73 68 76; A S Hansen (Den) 71 72 67 76; O Whiteley (Eng) 71 72 67 76;
287 M Thorp (Nor) 74 69 72 72; J Clément (Sui) 72 72 69 74;
288 E Goya (Arg) 70 66 79 73; W Besseling (Ned) 69 75 72 72; J Garcia (Esp) 71 69 72 76;
289 S Delagrange (Fra) 73 71 71 74; G Murray (Sco) 68 74 72 75; J Guerrier (Fra) 68 75 71 75; G Canizares (Esp) 75 69 69 76; S Son-Houi (Fra) 70 71 71 77; L Dodd (Eng) 73 69 70 77;
290 B Mason (Eng) 71 73 71 75;
291 M Reale (Ita) 73 71 73 74;
292 S O’Hara (Sco) 69 74 72 77; J Xanthopoulous (Fra) 70 74 71 77; A Snobeck (Fra) 75 69 71 77; G Davies (Eng) 69 72 72 79;
293 F Henge (Swe) 71 72 73 77; J Van Hauwe (Fra) 70 69 75 79;
294 N Joakimides (Fra) 71 71 77 75; S Benson (Eng) 72 69 77 76;
295 F Cupillard (Sui) 74 70 71 76; R McEvoy (Eng) 69 75 74 75;
297 S P Webster (Eng) 68 71 79 79;
299 T Feyrsinger (Aut) 72 71 74 82;