Scottish Challenge: McEvoy takes control as Hoey slips back
AVIEMORE, SCOTLAND - JULY 01: Richard McEvoy of England plays his tee shot to the 9th hole during the third day of the 2017 SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by MacDonald Hotels and Resorts at Spey Valley Golf Course on July 1, 2017 in Aviemore, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
Michael Hoey sandwiched a quadruple bogey nine between a pair of birdie twos en route to a 74 that leaves him six shots behind leader Richard McEvoy in the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels & Resorts.
The 38-year old then bogeyed the last to finish the day on five under par as McEvoy shot a 67 to take a one-shot lead into the final round in Aviemore.
The experienced Englishman began the day three strokes behind overnight leader Mikael Lundberg, but after a run of four birdies in six holes, McEvoy shot into first place.
Four further gains, offset by four bogeys, meant the 38-year-old finished the day on eleven under par overall – one ahead of his nearest rival Lundberg.
Hoey is tied for 13th on five-under with Gavin Moynihan a shot further back in a tie for 21st after a 74.
Neil O’Briain carded a 70 to share 27th on three-under with Ruaidhri McGee (70) and Dermot McElroy (74) tied for 39th on one-under.
Although he is in front by the narrowest of margins, McEvoy is confident that he can return to the winner’s circle at Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Club tomorrow.
“My game has been very good all year,” said McEvoy, who finished fifth in last month’s Lyoness Open powered by ORGANIC.
“I feel very good about all parts of my game, apart from the odd swing here and there.“I haven’t played on the Challenge Tour since Oman three years ago, so it is a really nice week to come back.
“It’s a typical British course. I grew up playing links golf so I love courses like this where you have to get the ball in play – it’s not all about how far you hit it.”
McEvoy, who won his only Challenge Tour title at the Panasonic Panama Open in 2004, admits he will be tense heading into the final day, but believes fate may be on his side.
“Everyone gets nervous,” he said. “Obviously I’ll be trying to win – if you don’t get nervous you don’t care about it. Hopefully I can control those nerves and continue to keep making birdies.
“My roommate this week is the defending champion James Heath – so that must be a good omen.”
Sweden’s Lundberg trails McEvoy by one, while South Africa’s Erik van Rooyen is three shots off the lead on eight under par overall.
Switzerland’s Marco Iten continued his excellent form in Aviemore, following up his eight under par round of 63 yesterday by posting a three-under par score of 68 to move to seven under overall.
Scores after Round Three:
202 R McEvoy (Eng) 70 65 67,
203 M Lundberg (Swe) 67 65 71,
205 E Van Rooyen (RSA) 68 69 68,
206 J Hansen (Den) 71 66 69, M Kinhult (Swe) 71 65 70, R James (Wal) 65 68 73, S Fernandez (Esp) 69 65 72, S Brown (Eng) 69 67 70, M Iten (Sui) 75 63 68,
207 M Tullo (Chi) 70 66 71, J Senior (Eng) 68 69 70, P Oriol (Esp) 67 68 72,
208 A Meronk (Pol) 71 68 69, Michael Hoey (Nir) 68 66 74, M Madsen (Den) 70 70 68, J McDonald (Sco) 72 66 70, J Heath (Eng) 72 65 71, S Forsström (Swe) 71 67 70, M Lafeber (Ned) 70 69 69, J Dantorp (Swe) 69 69 70,
209 A Rai (Eng) 70 68 71, G Moynihan (Irl) 69 66 74, M Ford (Eng) 69 69 71, M Ovesen (Den) 74 66 69, R Saxton (Ned) 75 66 68, R McCarthy (Aus) 75 66 68,
210 D Van Driel (Ned) 72 71 67, C Griffiths (Eng) 72 67 71, Neil O'Briain (Irl) 73 67 70, M Nixon (Eng) 73 67 70, F Laporta (Ita) 74 67 69, S Soderberg (Swe) 75 68 67, J McLeary (Sco) 74 67 69, N Cullen (Aus) 71 67 72,
211 E Goya (Arg) 71 68 72, J Girrbach (Sui) 71 69 71, M Lampert (Ger) 73 68 70, B Hafthorsson (Isl) 73 69 69,
212 N Geyger (Chi) 75 68 69, N Johansson (Swe) 72 68 72, L Canter (Eng) 71 72 69, Ruaidhri McGee (Irl) 73 69 70, Dermot McElroy (Nir) 67 71 74,
213 N Møller (Den) 71 66 76, A Connelly (Can) 72 70 71, V Perez (Fra) 71 70 72, V Riu (Fra) 69 71 73, C Koepka (USA) 74 68 71, M Orrin (Eng) 72 69 72, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 70 71 72, B Eccles (Aus) 73 68 72, L Gagli (Ita) 73 66 74,
214 P Widegren (Swe) 74 67 73, J Doherty (Sco) 70 70 74, A Wennstam (Swe) 72 71 71, G Forrest (Sco) 74 68 72, J Brun (Fra) 75 68 71, O Farr (Wal) 72 71 71, E Cuartero Blanco (Esp) 76 67 71,
215 J Ross (Sco) 74 68 73, J Sarasti (Esp) 74 69 72, M Schwab (Aut) 73 70 72, M Haastrup (Den) 73 70 72,
216 C Ford (Eng) 69 72 75, J Rutherford (Eng) 71 72 73,
217 S Henry (Sco) 73 70 74, N Ravano (Ita) 71 67 79, M Wiegele (Aut) 74 69 74,
218 D Kay (Sco) 74 68 76,
219 K Samooja (Fin) 72 70 77,
220 D Fox (Aus) 73 70 77
