Sam Murphy finds form on the greens to lead Irish Boys by two at Thurles
San Murphy (Portumna) driving at the 15th tee in the second round of the 2020 Irish Boys Under 18 Amateur Close Championship at Thurles Golf Club today (11/08/2020). Picture by Pat Cashman
Portumna's Sam Murphy holed a series of long bombs to take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the Irish Boys Championship at Thurles.
The Galway teenager (18) showed his liking for the Tipperary course two years ago when he helped Portumna defeat Fortwilliam in the AIG Junior Cup final.
This time his putter was key as he made six birdies and some crucial par saves, adding a four-under-par 68 to his opening 71 to lead by two shots from Baltinglass' Joseph Byrne, the current Irish U16 champion, on five-under.
Byrne posted a best of the week 67 to sit alone in second on three-under with Faithlegg's Rory Milne and Belvoir Park's Luke Kelly just three off the lead on two-under.
"I played really well today, I made a lot of putts," said Murphy, who holed two key putts on the front nine which helped build momentum.
"I was unfortunate on the third, I hit the green and it spun back into the water, but got a drop up near the green and holed a 30 or 40 footer for par and made a 50 or 60 footer on the next for birdie.
"That kept me going and I made a few key putts coming home on the back nine. I'm delighted with my round." Having turned 18 last week, Murphy will focus on his own game heading into the final round on Wednesday.
"I only live an hour away so I'm going to head home now, I might go to Portumna, up to the range and hit a few balls.
"Do what I did yesterday, bed early and have a good night's sleep. Basically tomorrow I'm just going to play the course and I'm not going to play my opponents and see how it goes."
By topping the qualifiers for the final round—the cut for the top 40 falling at seven-over 151—Murphy will be awarded the Munster Boys Championship as Thurles was set to host that provincial championship before the rearranged season took shape.
The overnight leader, Malahide's Gavin O'Neill, eagled the last to shoot 74 and share fifth place on one-under with Naas' David Marshall Jnr.
However, a host of top players are within five shots of the lead with Seapoint's Dylan Keating and the in-form Daniel Mulligan tied for seventh on level par with Belvoir Park's Darcy Hogg and Westmantown's Dara McNicholl.
McNicholl was particularly hot on day two, matching Wicklow man Byrne with a best of the week, bogey-free 67.
Irish Under 18 Boys Open, Thurles (Par 72)
Leading scores
139 Sam Murphy (Portumna) 71 68;
141 Joseph Byrne (Baltinglass) 74 67;
142 Rory Milne (Faithlegg) 72 70, Luke Kelly (Belvoir Park) 70 72;
143 David Marshall Jnr (Naas) 75 68, Gavin O'Neill (Malahide) 69 74;
144 Dara McNicholl (Westmanstown) 77 67, Dylan Keating (Seapoint) 72 72, Darcy Hogg (Belvoir Park) 71 73, Daniel Mulligan (Laytown & Bettystown) 71 73.
