McGrane second again in Morocco

For the second time in his European Tour career Kells golfer Damien McGrane came agonisingly close to clinching his second title when he finished three shots behind Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey on -14 at the Trophee Hassan II in Morocco last weekend. McGrane, whose only Tour win so far came in the China Open in 2008, was also second behind Graeme McDowell at the Andalucia Masters in Valderrama in 2010, a result which helped earn him the Meath Chronicle/Cusack Hotel Group Sports Person of the Year for 2010. And he came so close to his second win on Sunday, but was pipped by a magnificent performance from Ulster man Hoey. Nine behind McGrane who had shot 65 in his opening round, 33-year-old Hoey grabbed his fourth European Tour victory, and second of this Ryder Cup campaign, with two superb closing rounds of 65. McGrane had led at the beginning of round two, three and four of the wind affected competition playing some of his finest golf. After his opening round McGrane was delighted with his position. "I played beautifully today and I'm delighted with it," said McGrane. "I got off to a fast start and I managed to keep it going and finish it off nicely. It is testing out there at the moment, the greens are beautiful. If you play well you get plenty of opportunities and it's in pristine condition obviously." The Kells man maintained that advantage going into round three with a second round of 68 and a 71 in his penultimate 18 ensured McGrane shared the lead going into the last round with Italian sensation Matteo Manassero. The 40-year-old McGrane led by three after starting with back-to-back birdies, then found himself two behind when Hoey followed a two on the short second with four successive birdies from the fifth. It was nip and tuck again when he bogeyed the long 10th and McGrane made four, but three more birdies in four holes from the short 14th settled it with McGrane's challenge unable to gain momentum over the closing holes. McGrane's second place finish in Morocco earned him over €166,000 and moves him into the top 30 in the Race to Dubai.