Hoey five behind in Germany
James Morrison. Picture: Getty Images
Michael Hoey carded a one under 71 to go into the final round of the BMW International Open five shots behind England’s James Morrison.
The Belfast man had four birdie and three bogeys at Golfclub München Eichenried to share fifth place on 11 under par as he searches for his sixth European Tour win.
But Morrison looks comfortalbe and takea a two-shot lead into the final round as he chases a second European Tour title in as many months.
The in-form Englishman, who won last month’s Open de España, fired six birdies in a five under par round of 67 to move to 16 under par at .
His only bogey of the day - and only his second in 54 holes – came on the closing hole, when his approach from the rough cut left over the grandstand and struck a female marshal on the arm. From another difficult lie, he then left his chip short and required two putts, but that was the only blemish in an otherwise impressive round.
Morrison will be joined in the final group by his compatriot Chris Paisley, who made his move with seven birdies in nine holes from the third hole, eventually signing for a six under par round of 66.
The Qualifying School graduate climbed to 14 under par, with Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee a further shot back following a round of 68 which included an eagle on the sixth hole, as well as four birdies.
Former Ryder Cup player Peter Hanson continued his return from a back injury with three birdies in his last four holes for a round of 67. He sits four shots back on 12 under par, in fourth position.
Shane Lowry continued his climb up the leaderboard but would have been just a shot outside eh Top 10 had he not bogeyed the last for a 69.
Darren Clarke eagled the 18th while Damien McGrane had six birdies in 69s as they share 32nd on six under
However, Peter Lawrie failed to make a birdie in a 77 while Kevin Phelan dropped four shots in three holes from the seventh to the ninth en route to a 76 to leave them down the leaderboard on two under and one under respectively.
Complete round three scores (par 72)
200 J Morrison (Eng) 67 66 67,
202 C Paisley (Eng) 69 67 66,
203 T Jaidee (Tha) 68 67 68,
204 P Hanson (Swe) 69 68 67,
205 P Larrazábal (Esp) 70 66 69, C Del Moral (Esp) 69 71 65, Michael Hoey (Nir) 69 65 71,
206 R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 65 67 74, K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 67 71 68, V Dubuisson (Fra) 72 67 67,
207 R Goosen (RSA) 68 70 69, D Horsey (Eng) 70 68 69, R Fisher (Eng) 71 69 67, L Jensen (Den) 65 69 73, T Hatton (Eng) 71 70 66, B Dredge (Wal) 69 68 70, G Stal (Fra) 70 70 67, H Stenson (Swe) 67 71 69,
208 Shane Lowry (Irl) 72 67 69, K Broberg (Swe) 71 69 68, P Lawrie (Sco) 68 71 69, J Van Zyl (RSA) 70 68 70, T Olesen (Den) 71 68 69, A Cañizares (Esp) 70 66 72, D Gaunt (Eng) 65 73 70,
209 L Bjerregaard (Den) 71 67 71, A Hansen (Den) 69 69 71, G Mulroy (RSA) 69 71 69, A Wall (Eng) 70 69 70, M Schneider (Ger) 68 70 71, P Oriol (Esp) 70 71 68,
210 M Kieffer (Ger) 72 69 69, T Fleetwood (Eng) 67 74 69, M Carlsson (Swe) 70 68 72, Damien McGrane (Irl) 69 72 69, V Riu (Fra) 67 73 70, A Johnston (Eng) 66 72 72, A Kirstein (Ger) 70 71 69, Darren Clarke (Nir) 70 71 69, S Wakefield (Eng) 71 70 69, M Foster (Eng) 76 65 69, C Doak (Sco) 71 70 69, E Espana (Fra) 69 69 72,
211 H Otto (RSA) 71 69 71, M Madsen (Den) 71 69 71, J Quesne (Fra) 68 71 72, M Siem (Ger) 71 70 70, T Bjørn (Den) 71 68 72, B Wiesberger (Aut) 71 68 72, D Howell (Eng) 69 70 72,
212 J Lagergren (Swe) 68 69 75, O Farr (Wal) 69 71 72, A Velasco (Esp) 71 69 72,
213 J Carlsson (Swe) 69 69 75,
214 F Fritsch (Ger) 68 72 74, G Bourdy (Fra) 75 66 73, S Kjeldsen (Den) 73 68 73, Peter Lawrie (Irl) 70 67 77,
215 Kevin Phelan (Irl) 68 71 76, M Ford (Eng) 70 69 76, J Campillo (Esp) 69 71 75, J Roos (RSA) 71 70 74.
