Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey clinched his first European Tour career victory on Sunday when he edged Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano in a play-off to capture the Portugal Open. Hoey sunk a six footer for par at the third extra hole after Fernandez-Castano had bogeyed the 474-yard par four 17th. Hoey had started the final round five shots behind overnight leader Paul Broadhurst but he fought his back with a five under par 66. Fernandez-Castano and the Northern Irishman forced a play-off after both finished on seven under par for the tournament, with the Spaniard carding a 67. Italy's Francesco Molinari carded a solid 68 to take third place after a final round three under par 68. Mikael Lundberg, Broadhurst and Jamie Donaldson all tied for the fourth spot on five under par while defending champion Gregory Bourdy of France carded a final round two under par 69 to finish tied for ninth along with Maarten Lafeber, Steve Webster, David Lynn and Alastair Forsyth. Kerr one stroke clear In California, former US Women's Open winner Cristie Kerr birdied two of the first four holes to grab a one-shot lead midway through Sunday's final round of the Kraft Nabisco Championship. A stroke behind pacesetting American Kristy McPherson overnight, Kerr reached the turn in two-under-par 34 for an overall tally of nine under at Mission Hills Country Club. McPherson chipped in for birdie from just short of the green at the par-five ninth to lie joint second, level with compatriot Brittany Lincicome who had also completed nine holes. Another American, Meaghan Francella, was in fourth place at five under with eight holes to play in the opening women's major of the year. Norway's Suzann Pettersen, runner-up here for the last two years, was heading for the best round of the day, five birdies in the first eight holes lifting her into a tie for sixth at four under.
