Hot Hoey hits the front in Madeira

Michael Hoey produced a scintillating exhibition with his irons to grab the halfway lead in the Madeira Islands Open.

The Belvour Park man, 30, birdied four of his first six holes on the way to a five-under-par 66 and one stroke lead over Horizon Sports Management stablemate Mick McGeady, Swede Joakim Haeggman and Argentina's Estanislao Goya on seven-under par.

Derry ace McGeady briefly snatched the lead with a birdie on his penultimate hole but a double bogey at the last meant he had to settle for a 67.

Hoey said: "I didn't actually have to putt that well because I was hitting the ball so close .

"I haven't played too many Seve courses but I think this one is good. There is a bit of emphasis on the short game but overall it's a decent test."

Hoey, the 2001 British Amateur champion, has often put himself under too much pressure to succeed and opted for a more relaxed approach.

"It's paying off so far," Hoey said. "You can put yourself under too much pressure in this game and I just told myself to chill out basically."

Damien McGrane posted a level par 72 to share fifth place with Carlos Rodiles on four-under par as Johnny Caldwell and Simon Thornton missed the cut.

Rodiles briefly set a course record at Porto Santo Golfe with a six-under 65 before Briton Richard Bland went one better with a 64.