Lowry and Murphy conquer high winds to contend for Dunhill Links
John Murphy watches his putt during a practice round at the 2021 Walker Cup at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Fla. on Friday, May 7, 2021. (Scott Halleran/USGA)
Shane Lowry birdied three of his last four holes to move into contention for his first win since The Open at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The world No 42 made six birdies and an eagle in a five-under 67 in high winds at Kingsbarns to jump into a tie for seventh with Kinsale's John Murphy on six-under-par.
They are just four strokes behind Tyrrell Hatton, who shot 70 at Kingsbarns to lead by a shot from English compatriot Daniel Gavins on 10-under in his bid for a third win in the event since 2016.
Lowry was two-under with four holes to play before following a birdie at the sixth with two more at the eighth and ninth.
"I'm very happy," Lowry said as Ryder Cup skipper Pádraig Harrington struggled to a 75 to sit on six-over. "It's tough, so windy out there. You're going to make mistakes, but I limited them today and I made six birdies and an eagle."
John Murphy following his win in the 2018 St Andrews Links Trophy
Former Walker Cup star Murphy (23) credited practice rounds with Paul Dunne and Cormac Sharvin for his tidy golf at Kingsbarns, where he fired a three-under 69 to move into the top 10 in his first major European Tour event.
"It's not easy out there, and it was nice to string two decent rounds together and put myself in position," said the Challenge Tour regular, who is putting thoughts of following in the footsteps of Rory McIlroy, who finished third in this event in 2007 to secure his tour card, to the back of his mind.
"There are always thoughts like that crossing your mind, but you have to stay in the present."
Murphy plays the Old Course today, hoping the relaxed attitude that brought him an unexpected victory in the 2018 St Andrews Links Trophy will serve him well.
"I was nowhere near getting in on merit, but the GUI sent me, and it was similar this week," said the University of Louisville graduate. "I am playing on an invitation again, so I see it as an opportunity to enjoy myself and see where I finish up on Sunday evening."
It was a disappointing day for the rest of the Irish as Michael Hoey shot 75 at Carnoustie to fall back to 25th on four-under while Dunne shot 75 at Kingsbarns to share 41st on two-under.
Sharvin is 122nd on three-over after a 72 on the Old Course, while Jonathan Caldwell is nine-over after an 81 at Carnoustie.
At the PGA Tour's Sanderson Farms Championship, Will Zalatoris fired an 11-under 61 to snatch the clubhouse lead on 13-under but Seamus Power bogeyed the last and finished two shots outside the projected cut mark on two-under despite making six birdies in a 69.
On the LPGA Tour, Leona Maguire birdied four of her last seven holes to open with a four-under 67 in the Shoprite LPGA Classic in New Jersey.
She was tied 11th, just two strokes behind leader So Yeon Ryu as Stephanie Meadow birdied three of her last four holes to open with a two-under 69.
Meanwhile, Spain's Alejandro del Rey (23) made professional golf history as he carded a 14-under 58 – the lowest score to par ever recorded on a major golf tour - in the Swiss Challenge at Golf Saint Apollinaire.
He made three eagles and eight birdies to improve by 16 strokes on his first-round 74 and join Jim Furyk, Stephan Jäger, Ryo Ishikawa and Kim Seong-hyeon, who shot their rounds on par-70 courses, as one of five golfers to shoot 58 on a major tour.
Del Rey was tied for fourth on 12-under, two shots behind Germany's Marcel Schneider.
The Island's Gavin Moynihan is tied 23rd on eight-under after a 68, but Tullamore's Stuart Grehan shot 73 to miss the cut by three strokes on one-under.
