Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey and Shinrone’s Justin Kehoe finished in a tie for 51st place as Lanarkshire’s Marc Warren finished the Thomas Björn Open presented by Multidata on a week to forget for the European Challenge Tour’s Irish contingent.

Hours spent in his bedroom last week practising his putting and watching the Masters at the same time paid handsome dividends for Scot Steven O’Hara today.

IRELAND’S Stephen Browne had the biggest victory of his professional career yesterday when winning the European Challenge Tour’s Norwegian Challenge Open at the Vestfold Golf Club, Tønsberg, carding a gutsy five-under par 67 to win by three shots.

NEW ZEALANDER Simon Owen is setting a hot pace in the first round of the Mobile Cup at Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire by carding a five-under-par 66.

North West Ireland Open Scores