McGrane and Hoey chase Madeira glory

Irish duo Damien McGrane and Michael Hoey will try to chase down budding superstar Estanislao Goya in the final round of the Madeira Islands Open BPI-Portugal.

McGrane battled back from a slow start to card a one-under par 70 that left him alone in second place, three shots behind the talented Argentinian on five-under par.

Spain's Carlos Rodiles is third on four-under with Hoey five shots adrift after posting a disappointing four-over par 75 in tough, windy conditions.

McGrane could have slipped out of contention early on when he bogeyed two of his opening five holes but recovered with a birdie at the eighth and three more on the back nine to record a round of 70.

Fellow Irishman Michael McGeady was even better placed heading into the third round, a 69 and 67 leaving him one shot off Hoey's overnight lead.

But consecutive double bogeys at the third and fourth saw him crash back to level par after a six over par  77.

McGrane said: "I threw away a few shots early on but that is going to happen on a day like today. I was solid and I feel that I have a chance tomorrow.

"If you go out and play well and give yourself birdie chances, you might pick a few off. I am looking forward to playing. You should be up for it and I am looking forward to the challenge."

After grabbing his breakthrough win at the Volvo China Open last year, McGrane does not believe that experience will make a difference to him in the final round.

He said: "I hope it does but when you are standing over a six-foot putt, the past doesn't come into it. You still have to put it in the hole."

Hoey led by a stroke overnight but racked up two double bogeys in his first ten holes.

He said: "I didn't really play that poorly, I just had a couple of wrong clubs in the wind. I swung the club really well. 

"I can't lose a lot of confidence really, there's still a long way to go. If I get a good score tomorrow, I'll have a good chance. Hopefully that's my bad round out of the way. 

"I am swinging the club really well and I will have plenty more chances this year, regardless of what happens tomorrow. I'll be in position a few times this year."

205 Estanislao Goya (Arg) 68 68 69

208 Damien McGrane (Irl) 66 72 70

209 Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 73 65 71

210 Michael Hoey (Nir) 69 66 75

211 Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 66 70 75, Wil Besseling (Ned) 69 72 70

212 Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 72 69 71

213 Michael McGeady (Irl) 69 67 77

214 Anthony Wall 72 69 73