Hoey five off the leader Westerberg

MICHAEL HOEY conquered his Italian hex to become the leading Irishman at the European Challenge Tour’s Tessali-Metaponto Open di Puglia e Basilicata after a second round 72 left him on two under par 141 — five shots behind leader Leif Westerberg of Sweden.

The Belfast man had played in the tournament for the last two seasons but twice missed the halfway cut.

After yesterday's one over par 72, the 25-year-old was delighted to win his "personal battle".

Hoey began the tournament staged at two separate courses for the opening two rounds with a three-under 69 at Metaponto Club, which he followed up with his 72 at Rivai dei Tessali yesterday.

He is two shots ahead of Dublin's Stephen Browne (level par) and four ahead of Colm Moriarty (two over) from Athlone going into the final two rounds.