HOEY WINS CHALLENGE TOUR
PLAY-OFF AS HENDERSON
RUES BAG OF BOGEYS

By MICHAEL GIBBONS, European Challenge Tour Press Officer

Aberdonian Scott Henderson rounded off a disappointing weekend for the European Challenge Tour’s tartan contingent by finishing in a tie for 45th place at the Tessali-Metaponto Open di Puglia e Basilicata in south-east Italy today.
The former European Tour Rookie of the Year had battled his way into the top 20 at the halfway stage and was just six shots off the pace with 36 holes to play, but weekend scores of 74-72 saw his challenge fade and resulted in a one-under par 274 finish.
That was a full 12 strokes behind winner Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland, who defeated Welshman Liam Bond in a sudden-death play-off to take the title and the €20,800 first prize.
Henderson shot 15 birdies over the four rounds but too many bogeys dragged him down. He earned 624 Euros.
Henderson had rounds of 73, 65, 74 and 72 at the south-east Italy venue. A triple bogey 7 at the 11th on Saturday torpedoed his hopes of making a run at the leaders. In his final round, Scott birdied the 12th and 14th, but bogeyed the sixth, 11th and 18th - the story of the tournament for him.
The only other Scot to make the halfway cut, rookie George Murray, finished joint 59th in a field of 64 players with scores of 69, 72 74 and 75 for five-over 290. His cash prize was 410 Euros.
George had a double bogey 6 at the ninth to nullify his birdies at the 11th and 18th in his final round.
The leading Scottish-based player was Welshman Gareth Wright, son of the West Linton Golf Club professional. Gareth scored 70, 66, 75 and 70 for a share of 26th place on 281. Wright earned 1,066 Euros.
The 20,800 Euros first prize went to Ulsterman Michael Hoey, winner of the 2001 British open amateur championship at Prestwick, after a play-off with Welshman Liam Bond. They tied on 13-under-par 272. Bond birdied four of the inward holes in a closing 68, leaving overnight leader Hoey to birdie the last for a 71 to force a play-off, which he did.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 285 (3 x 71, 1 x 72)
272 Liam Bond (Wal) 70 66 68 68, Michael Hoey (NIr) 66 67 68 71 (Hoey won play-off).
273 Joost Luiten (Net) 65 70 68 70.
274 Marco Crespi (Ita) 67 71 67 69, Ben Mason (Eng) 70 67 69 68.
275 Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 71 68 67 69, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 71 69 70 65, John E Morgan (Eng) 66 67 74 68.
Scots-based scores:
281 Gareth Wright (Wal) 70 66 75 70 (jt 26th).
284 Scott Henderson (Sco) 73 65 74 72 (jt 45th).
290 George Murray (Sco) 69 72 74 75.