The Belfast man is in a four-way share of the lead with English duo Matthew Cort and Adam Gee together with Australian Matthew Zions.

An eagle three on the 11th had echoes of the hole-in-one he managed in the first round of the AGF-Allianz Open Côtes d'Armor Bretagne last week but after fading in France, he will be hopeful of building on his good start this time around.

Gee was also going well in France last week only for a triple bogey seven on the Sunday to wreck his chances.

Hoey's eagle on the 564-yard par five at the El Jadida Sofitel Golf Resort took him to three under after he picked up a couple of birdies on the front nine.

Gee, who finished runner-up in the 2006 Amateur Championship, collected no less than eight birdies - five of them on the back nine yesterday.

The 27-year-old, who came fourth in the 2007 Russian Golf Championship on only his second start on The European Tour, said: "I've made a good start, but last week taught me to take nothing for granted."

Rory McIlroy went into the second round of the Crowns tournament in Japan five shots off the pace after a one over opening round of 71 last night.