Michael Hoey has found form at just the right time.

The Northern Irishman has put himself back in the hunt for a debut Ryder Cup place with a three-stroke victory at the Hassan Trophy in Morocco yesterday. Nine behind after his opening 74, the 33-year-old Northern Irishman grabbed his fourth European Tour victory – and second of this cup campaign – with two superb closing rounds of 65.

A former British amateur champion, Hoey took the £207,737 first prize with a 17-under-par total of 271. It was enough for others to begin poring over his credentials for a place in the European place, even if he was reluctant to do so himself. "I've not really been thinking about it, but I'm obviously in contention," said Hoey.

He defeated compatriot Rory McIlroy at the Dunhill Links Championship last October and he forced Irishman, Damien McGrane, into second place this time. McGrane had shared the lead with a round to play, with Matteo Manassero also keeping pace. The 18-year-old Italian had to win to have a chance of qualifying for the Masters via the world rankings, but fell away to joint sixth with a round of 72.

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.

Not that his 65 was the round of the day. In fact it was not even close. Jamie Donaldson, yet to win in nearly 250 Tour events, shot a course-record 61 to share third place with fellow Welshman Phillip Price and England's Robert Coles.

Donaldson covered the back nine first in 28, only one off the Tour record, with two eagles and four birdies, then started for home with another birdie to be nine under for his first 10 holes. He then found the water on the long fifth.

He recovered from a six there, though, adding a further birdie on the seventh and at the 394-yard ninth sank his nine-iron approach for a third eagle.

"I forgot about the end result and concentrated on one shot at a time. It was a great day," said Donaldson.

As it was for Hoey, who had not had a top-10 finish since his victory at St Andrews nearly six months ago. "My swing is more consistent and Phil Kenyon has been helping me with my putting," he said.

Manassero's disappointing final round was good news for Ernie Els in Florida. The South African, joint third with a round to go in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, can now qualify for The Masters by finishing in third place.