Michael Hoey is headed for two events in Kenya after ruing a poor final round to share eighth place in the rain-affected Hero Indian Open.
Hoey went into the last round sharing fourth place, albeit six shots behind back-to-back winner SSP Chawrasia of India, but stumbled with four bogeys and just one birdie in a closing day 75 and settle for eighth place.
The Belfast’s golfer birdie was at the 14th but he then dropped shots on 15 and 17 to secure what also was his best finish since he was ninth in last July’s Scottish Open.
Michael Hoey on route to a Black Mountain course record 64 on day one of the Thailand Classic. (Photo – www,europeantour.com)
Hoey was headed to Kenya for this week’s inaugural two-day Karen Masters featuring some tour 40 Challenge Tour pros and 22 local pros.
The event was initially planned for 54 holes, but due to the fact that the local pros will be featuring in the 72-hole PGK Jamii Masters at Sigona finishing on the Friday before tee-off, the host Karen Golf Club decided to reduce the Masters to only 36 holes.
Friday, March 17, there will be a Pro-Am tournament where the visiting players, some of whom are drawn from the likes of Hoey and his European Challenge Tour colleagues, will be joining Karen members and guests of the sponsors.
There will be prize money for the top 10 players ranging from $4,000 for the winner to $200 for the 10th placed player.
And Hoey will remain in Kenya for the following week’s start to the 2017 Challenge Tour season proper with the staging of the Barclays Kenya Open in Nairobi.
After losing his Tour card last year Hoey has committed himself to the Challenge Tour but it hasn’t stopped him seeking invitations to play on the main Tour.
However he does have an invitation to contest the Trophee Hassan starting April 13th in Morocco, and an event he won in 2012.
India’s SSP Chawrasia, 38 became the first Indian-born golfer to successfully defend at European Tour title while he’s now won all four European wins on home soil.
