Hoey recovers after brush with bad luck

MICHAEL HOEY returned to competition for the first time since his stunning Alfred Dunhill Links triumph and immediately ignited hopes of a second successive Tour victory in the Castellon Masters in Spain.

Hoey sprinted into an early share of the lead with a sixth birdie in eight holes mid-round before eventually signing for a four-under-par 67 on the Club de Campo Mediterranean course.

England’s Ross McGowan again showed his fondness for Spain, recording a seven-under-par 64.