McGrane prominent

Damien McGrane showed last weekend with his superb third place finish at the Madeira Island Open that he is returning to top form and just in time for the defence of his Volvo China Open title next month. The Kells man shared third place with Dutch star Wil Besseling and returns home for a short break €39,410 richer after finishing two shots behind winner Estanislao Goya from Argentina who survived a nervous final round alongside McGrane to claim the crown on six under par. McGrane had looked set to pounce on Goya"s error-ridden final round of two over par 73, but a double bogey on the 13th hole left the Meath man with too much to do and he had to settle for third place with Scotlnd"s Callum MacAuley in second. MacAuley enjoyed an amazing back nine during his course record of 64 final round that saw him birdie each of the last six holes, and eight out of the final nine for an inward total of 28, just one short of the European Tour record. It had looked more promising than a final third place finish for McGrane when he shared the first round lead with Swede Joakim Haeggman after a five under par found of 66. McGrane joined the former Ryder Cup star at the top of the leaderboard when he holed an amazing bunker shot at the last. Commenting on that amazing shot McGrane said, 'I thought I was right up on the bank and I was delighted to see that it had gone in the bunker to be honest. It was still an extremely difficult bunker shot, but one of those rare things happened where not only did I put the ball on the green, but I managed to get it in the hole. 'It was a spectacular way to finish. I played really well all day - the bogeys were really down to the wind as opposed to bad shots.' However, rounds two and three were not as kind to McGrane as Goya, in only his sixth European tour event, moved into the lead, six shots clear of McGrane and three ahead of another Irish player Michael Hoey.