Here come the young guns
Times are changing and Ireland’s new boys are finally taking centre stage on the European Tour.
Entering the final round of the Moravia Silesia Open in the Czech Republic, Ulstermen Gareth Maybin (28) and Michael Hoey (30) have high hopes of walking away with the trophy.
As 40 somethings Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley holiday in the sunshine with their children, Hoey and Maybin are making hay.
In fact, Maybin has a great chance of walking away with his maiden title and the €333,330 that goes with it.
The Ballyclare man had five birdies and just one bogey in a third round 68 that left him lurking just two strokes behind leader Steve Webster in a share of fourth place on nine under par.
Estoril Open winner Hoey is five off the pace on six under as he mixed two birdies with six birdies in his 68.
“I played pretty solid and only made one mistake,” said Maybin, who is coming into form. “I had a good week last week after struggling before that. I have been working pretty hard on my game and it seems to be coming around.”
As Webster hit a 69 to lead by a stroke from Ignacio Garrido and Graeme Storm on 11 under, Maybin shares fourth place with England’s Sam Little believing he needs to go low on Sunday to win his first European Tour title.
“I’ve had a few chances this year. It’s all about giving yourself a chance on the back nine and hopefully I can do that. I might need a 66 or a 67 tomorrow so I have to shoot a good one. But my game feels good enough so I will go out and give it my all.”
The generation game was perfectly illustrated by Hoey’s third round pairing with South African David Frost.
Playing his final European Tour event before moving on to a career on the US Champions Tour in September, the 49 year old won 16 titles worldwide, including 10 PGA Tour events and three win the Million Dollar Challenge in Sun City.
“He’s very professional and you can learn a lot from him - the way he does his yardages and works with his caddie,” said Hoey, who appears to be finding some form.
Tied 43rd in Sweden last week, he has had a miserable time since winning in April with a disqualification in the Irish Open and a withdrawal with illness at Wentworth to go with five missed cuts.
“I am playing good now after struggling for a while,” he said. “I just wasn’t totally with it but I am adjusting again to everything and I have a good chance tomorrow.” Hoey believes it could take a 65 or 66 to get the job done but added: “You never know with some tough pins. On Sundays the scoring sometimes drops on the back nine.”