Grant starts well but Murphy facing battle at Web.com Tour Q-School

Grant starts well but Murphy facing battle at Web.com Tour Q-School
Stephen Grant

Stephen Grant

Former footballer Stephen Grant got his bid for a Web.com Tour card off to a great start when he opened with a four under 68 in the First Qualifying Stage at at The Breakers Rees Jones Course in West Palm Beach.

The 39-year old from Birr made five birdies and dropped just one shot to find himself tied for second place, one stroke behind Brandon Smith at a venue where the top 25 and ties advance to November's Second Qualifying Stage.

Q-School provides access to the 2017 Web.com Tour for players who can advance through all three stages.

Players who advance to Final Stage will be assured of at least conditional status on the Web.com Tour in 2017.

However, it looks like an uphill task now for Waterville's Mark Murphy who is tied for 70th after two rounds at Callaway Gardens' Mountain View course in Pine Mountain, Georgia.

The 38-year old added a 78 to his opening 76 and at 10 over par, he's 10 strokes outside the top 25 and ties who progress there.

He wasn't happy at the state of the range balls on Tuesday...

Or his swing on Wednesday...