Hoey runs out of firepower at Black Mountain

Michael Hoey. Picture courtesy Duncan Orr

After making eight birdies en route to a course-record setting 64 on the opening day, Michael Hoey made just seven birdies over the next three rounds as he finished tied for 31st in the US$2million True Thailand Classic presented by Black Mountain.

The 36-year old was not quite as effective from tee to green and coudn't make enough birdies to offset seven bogeys as he followed up with rounds of 72, 73 and 71 to finish eight shots behind Australian Andrew Dodt on eight under par.

Dodt carded a five under par 67 in the final round to snatch his second European Tour win by one stroke from big-hitting Scott Hend, the overnight leader, and the much-fancied Thongchai Jaidee.

As Miguel Angel Jiménez shot 73 to slip to tied seventh, three behind on 13 under, Dodt was under the radar at the start of the final round at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin.

Three consecutive birdies to start lifted him into the mix and as he stayed steady, his opponents faltered with Hend posting a level par 72, Jaidee a 71 and Jiménez a 73.

Jaidee had a lengthy eagle putt on the last to win, but he left it ten feet short and missed the birdie attempt which would have forced a play-off, leaving Dodt, who had already finished at 16 under par, to celebrate the first prize of €289,862.

Hoey earned €13,541 and is now 95th in the Race to Dubai with 39,835 points (and euro) from six starts.

Damien McGrane shot rounds of 74 and 70 at the weekend to share 66th on three under and earn €3,652, which leaves him 128th in the Race to Dubai.

Andrew Dodt. Picture Getty Images

Dodt, 29, was clearly delighted to snatch his first European Tour victory since the 2010 Avantha Masters.

“I’m speechless," said Dodt, who won back his card at the 2014 Q-School after losing it at the end of 2013. "I got off to a good start today and hung in there during the middle, just trying to make pars on the tougher holes.

"I knew 17 and 18 were downwind and I was hoping to birdie one of those and get to 17 under. Unfortunately I couldn’t, but 16 was good enough.

"I was really switched on as I wanted to get off to a fast start. Those three early birdies really got the momentum going and I hung in after that. The winds picked up on the back nine and it got pretty tricky towards the end – I tried to play as sensibly as I could.

“Losing my card on The European Tour was probably a good thing two years ago because it really knocked me down, made me work harder and want to do well again. I did that towards the end of last year and that form has carried over to the start of this year.”

Jaidee was let to rue to mistakes, especially three-putts at the 16th and 18th.

“Overall I played well but I made some mistakes with the club selection especially on 13 where I double bogeyed," Jaidee said. "The pin positions were tough, especially on the back nine. I three-putted on 16 and 18. I tried my best and it’s okay I finished second. Andrew was a deserving winner as he put up a great performance. I’ll try again the next time.”

As for Hend, who bogeyed the 14th and 17t before finishing with a birdie, he said: "I pressed for the win on 17 and got a bit aggressive with my bunker shot, and I finished one shot behind.

"I came here to try to win. I thought Dodty was going to make birdie on 18 and I was only 15 under, so I thought I had to play an aggressive bunker shot.

"Unfortunately I caught it a little too clean and bogeyed the hole. All in all it was a good solid week and there are a lot of positives to take out of it.

"It’s good to see Dodty winning, fantastic. Obviously I wish it was me standing there winning, but congratulations to him.”

Finals Scores:

272 A Dodt (Aus) 71 67 67 67, 

273 S Hend (Aus) 67 68 66 72, T Jaidee (Tha) 69 66 67 71, 

274 J Knutzon (USA) 72 66 69 67, K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 67 67 70 70, R Lee (Can) 68 67 73 66, 

275 J Carlsson (Swe) 69 67 70 69, W Ormsby (Aus) 72 65 68 70, M Jiménez (Esp) 67 66 69 73, C Pigem (Esp) 65 72 72 66, 

276 A Noren  (Swe) 67 70 68 71, S Brazel (Aus) 69 69 71 67, S Kapur (Ind) 66 73 69 68, J Parry (Eng) 71 69 70 66, 

277 R Green (Aus) 71 67 67 72, J Colomo  (Esp) 74 67 65 71, J Wang (Kor) 68 69 71 69, J Randhawa (Ind) 71 70 65 71, A Wall (Eng) 72 68 70 67, J Campillo (Esp) 73 68 66 70, 

278 A Lahiri (Ind) 69 72 70 67, N Holman  (Aus) 71 67 71 69, B Henson (USA) 70 69 69 70, P Junhasavasdikul (Tha) 67 73 70 68, 

279 M Warren (Sco) 69 71 72 67, M Korhonen (Fin) 73 69 70 67, T Bjørn (Den) 69 72 66 72, A Otaegui (Esp) 69 69 71 70, T Lewis (Eng) 69 67 70 73, P Marksaeng (Tha) 67 72 68 72, 

280 P Meesawat  (Tha) 73 65 73 69, C Lloyd (Eng) 69 71 71 69, M Hoey  (Nir) 64 72 73 71, M Fraser (Aus) 69 71 70 70, M Carlsson  (Swe) 71 71 67 71, R Wattel  (Fra) 70 68 70 72, A Atwal (Ind) 73 67 74 66, 

281 K Broberg (Swe) 70 71 72 68, T Pilkadaris (Aus) 69 73 73 66, R Karlberg  (Swe) 72 65 70 74, R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 72 66 69 74, D Chia (Mas) 71 71 71 68, E Grillo (Arg) 70 69 71 71, J Edfors (Swe) 69 72 72 68, T Khrongpha (Tha) 68 72 69 72, 

282 S Kang (Kor) 74 68 72 68, C Plaphol (Tha) 71 71 69 71, M Mamat (Sin) 70 68 70 74, A Hansen (Den) 71 71 69 71, 

283 M Kieffer (Ger) 73 68 70 72, J Quesne  (Fra) 70 71 70 72, S Dyson  (Eng) 73 69 72 69, J Barnes (Eng) 72 70 70 71, J Kruger (RSA) 69 69 70 75, D Lipsky (USA) 65 73 69 76, P Swangarunporn (Tha) 75 67 71 70, R Wannasrichan (Tha) 68 71 74 70, S Supupramai (Tha) 72 68 72 71, F Aguilar (Chi) 70 70 71 72, 

284 P Peterson (USA) 68 72 72 72, G Havret  (Fra) 69 68 72 75, P Tangkamolprasert (Tha) 71 71 73 69, M Baldwin (Eng) 69 67 73 75, J Pagunsan (Phi) 72 70 71 71, H Chien-Yao (Tpe) 65 73 72 74, 

285 P Maddy (Eng) 70 70 73 72, K Richardson (Aus) 73 68 73 71, D McGrane (Irl) 74 67 74 70, 

286 K Oda (Jpn) 70 71 74 71, M Kawamura (Jpn) 68 72 71 75, 

287 M Ford (Eng) 67 74 72 74, B Rumford (Aus) 69 72 70 76, 

288 S Lewton (Eng) 70 71 76 71, 

289 S Jamieson  (Sco) 70 72 72 75, 

291 A Pavan (Ita) 70 72 71 78, R Paratore (Ita) 67 75 73 76, 

292 S Chawrasia (Ind) 71 71 71 79, 

295 A Vongvanij (Tha) 72 69 80 74.