Eagle puts Hoey clear at Dunhill Championship

Michael Hoey and Graeme McDowell were today continuing Northern Ireland’s remarkable recent golfing success story in the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.

McDowell got the ball rolling with his US Open victory at Pebble Beach last year, following up by securing the winning point for Europe in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.

He was succeeded as US Open champion by compatriot Rory McIlroy earlier this year, while Darren Clarke then won the Open Championship at Royal St George’s to give Northern Ireland their third major champion in little over a year.

Hoey has yet to hit those heights despite a successful amateur career which saw him play on the same victorious Walker Cup team as world number one Luke Donald in 2001, but the 32-year-old held a two-shot lead today after a brilliant start to his third round.

Starting from the 10th at Carnoustie – one of three courses used for the pro-am event – overnight joint leader Hoey birdied the 11th and 12th and then eagled the par-five 14th to improve to 16 under par.

McDowell had carded an eagle of his own at St Andrews, holing out from 100 yards on the third and also picking up birdies at the first and fifth to move into outright second on 14 under.

Former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, back at St Andrews where he lifted the Claret Jug last year, was a shot behind on 13 under after three birdies and one bogey on the front nine of the Old Course.

England’s Tommy Fleetwood, overnight joint leader with Hoey, was also 13 under after five holes at Carnoustie, with McIlroy and Lee Westwood 10 under after 10 and eight holes of St Andrews respectively.