Michael Hoey - With This Win

• His fourth European Tour International Schedule victory in his 151st European Tour event.

• Moves to €316,798 in The Race to Dubai.

• Would move to around 70th from 98th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

• His second consecutive season with a European Tour victory, following the 2011 Madeira Islands Open and 2011 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

• This victory beats his previous best 2012 performance of tied 12th in the Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy.

• His third European Tour win in his last 25 European Tour events, dating back to the 2011 Madeira Islands Open.

• Began the final round two shots behind the leaders. This equals the largest 54 hole comeback by a winner since the event became part of The European Tour. He would match the figure of Rhys Davies in 2010.

• The first Northern Irish victory of the 2012 European Tour season.

• The first player from Northern Ireland to win the Trophée Hassan II.

• Victory comes in his third appearance in the event and beats his previous best performance of tied 19th in 2011.

OTHER FACTS

• The 44th Northern Irish win in European Tour history.

• His seventh win as a professional.

• Extends his European Tour exemption until the end of 2014.

• Gains a place in the 2013 Volvo Golf Champions.

• Moves over €2 million in European Tour Official Career Earnings.

• Becomes the seventh former Challenge Tour player to win on the 2012 European Tour. They are: Louis Oosthuizen (Africa Open), Branden Grace (Joburg Open and Volvo Golf Champions), Robert Rock (Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship), Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Omega Dubai Desert Classic), Justin Rose (WGC – Cadillac Championship), Julien Quesne (Open de Andalucía Costa del Sol) and Michael Hoey (Trophée Hassan II).

• Becomes the 292nd European Tour victory by a former Challenge Tour player.

Hoey 65 Claims Hassan II Trophy

Michael Hoey fired a closing round of 65 to claim his fourth European Tour victory in the Hassan II Trophy in Morocco.

The Northern Irishman benefited from being one of the few players to complete his third round on Saturday - several of his adversaries having to finish early on Sunday.

Hoey's 65 the previous day eventually saw him start the final round two off the lead held by Matteo Manassero (65) and Damien McGrane, who double-bogeyed the 18th early in the day to card a 71.

Irishman McGrane retrieved both shots at the first two holes in his final round but Hoey raced to the turn in 31 including a run of four successive birdies from the fourth.

The pair continued to trade the lead though, McGrane picking up shots at the 10th and 11th while Hoey made his first mistake of the day as he turned for home, making six at the long 10th after finding the wrong green.

But McGrane then gave one back at the short 12th, and although he got it straight back it was Hoey who was to finish the stronger, picking up three birdies in four holes to sink McGrane's hopes of a first win in four years.

He won by three shots at the finish with McGrane hanging on for second with a round of 70.

"I knew it was going to be tough, I'm surprised Damien bogeyed 17 and I thought it would be a little bit tighter towards the end," Hoey, who had a breakthrough win at the Dunhill Links last year, told Sky Sports.

"It was nice to see my second shot land on the green there and I had three or four putts for it, which is unique, really.

"I've been working hard with my coach and my swing is more consistent and obviously my putting has been brilliant, I've got a nice team and my wife who travels with me."

Manassero had been searching for a victory that would take him back to Augusta next month, but his round never got going at he went to the turn in 38.

At eagle at the 15th gave him renewed hope but he still required a strong finish and it wasn't to be, a six at the 17th seeing him fall into a tie for sixth.

But the round of the day undoubtedly belonged to Jamie Donaldson, who returned a sensational 11-under-par 61 that included an eagle at the ninth - his closing hole - after finding rough off the tee.

The Welshman had two more eagles on his front nine as he covered it in 28 to spark dreams of a first 59 on the European circuit, and although he birdied the 10th a six via the water at the par-five fifth halted the momentum, but a third place finish proivides excellent compensation.

Donaldson was joined by fellow Welshman Phillip Price and Englishman Robert Coles on -13, four behind Hoey, with Manassero alongside Edoardo Molinari and Keith Horne one further back.