 |
| Getty Images |
Michael Hoey claimed his fifth European Tour title with a four-shot victory in the M2M Russian Open.
Hoey came into the final round with a five-shot lead at Tseleevo Golf & Polo Club near Moscow and his closing two-under 70 was good enough to hold off France's Alexandre Kaleka and Englishman Matthew Nixon.
Defending champion Kaleka shot a 68 to finish in a share of second place with Nixon, despite closing with his only bogey of the day at the 18th. By contrast Nixon birdied the last for a 69.
The 34-year-old Hoey had not finished better than 25th on the European Tour so far this season and missed seven of his last 10 cuts coming into the event.
But he held his nerve to add to his tally of European Tour victories - the last coming in the Trophee Hassan II in 2012 - and collect the winner's cheque for 166,660 Euros.
Hoey started steadily with six straight pars, before birdies at the seventh and eighth saw him move to 16 under and get to the turn five clear of his nearest pursuers.
His only dropped shot of the day came at the 12th and a birdie at 17 settled any late nerves.
Dane JB Hansen finished alone in fourth place after dropping two shots on the 18th for a 68, with China's Liang Wen-chong, France's Gregory Havret and Englishmen James Morrison and Mark Foster a shot further back on 10 under par.
