Sam Murphy romps to 10-shot win in Kerry Scratch Cup
Portumna’s Sam Murphy shows off the Kerry Group sponsored Kerry Scratch Cup.
Portumna’s Sam Murphy is making a habit of racking up big wins as he showed by romping to a 10-shot victory in the Kerry Group sponsored Kerry Scratch Cup at magnificent Tralee.
The 18-year old won the Irish Boys title by eight strokes at Thurles Golf Club last August and he was in similar, steamroller mode in the Kingdom at the weekend.
The plus-four handicapper fired rounds of 71 and 69 to lead by eight strokes from Waterford’s Eanna Griffin on four-under-par overnight, then closed with a level par 72 on Sunday to win by 10 from Castletroy’s Andrew McCormack on 212.
“I am delighted,” said Murphy, who will start his first year in Grand Canyon University in Arizona in September. “I was really pleased with my two rounds yesterday because they were really solid in really tough conditions. So to be leading by eight shots heading into the final round was very satisfying.
“I was three-under after nine today and a good few ahead at that stage so there wasn’t too much pressure on me coming down the stretch.
“I ended up shooting level par today. Conditions were too bad on the front nine but the wind got up once we made the turn and it was a two or three-club win coming home and it was tough. “
Having done his Leaving Certificate at Cistercian College, Roscrea, Murphy is now looking forward to some Championship golf here this summer before heading over to the US.
“I can’t wait to head over,” said the Portumna star, who will play the North of Ireland, South of Ireland and the Mullingar Scratch Cup before he starts to think about packing his bags. “The game is in good shape so I am looking forward to it.
“I have never played at Royal Portrush, or played a big matchplay championship, so I am looking forward to that and the South the following week. So I have some really good weeks to look forward to before heading to Mullingar.”
Ineligible for next week’s Irish Amateur Boys in Athenry, he is looking to improve his game before he gets to the US, then push on and return home with high hopes of competing for a place on the Irish team.
“I am a bit off the pace there at the moment but I worked hard with my coach Gary Madden at Glenlo Abbey over the winter and the game is starting to take shape. Fingers crossed we can continue to improve over the next 12 months.”
Kerry Scratch Cup, sponsored by Kerry Group, Tralee Golf Links (Par 72), June 26-27
Sam Murphy 71 69 72 212 Overall Winner
Andrew McCormack 74 76 72 222 Overall Runner-up
Darren P O'Sullivan 75 77 73 225 Overall 3rd
Matthew McClean 74 77 74 225 Overall 4th
Paul Coughlan 75 75 76 226 Overall 5th
Fergal O'Sullivan 70 81 76 227 Overall 6th
Charlie Denvir 77 72 79 228 Overall 7th
Cian Geraghty 77 78 74 229 Overall 8th
Greg O'Mahony 73 82 74 229 Overall 9th
Graham Spring 75 77 77 229
Eanna Griffin 73 75 82 230
Edward Stack 74 75 82 231
James Murray 81 75 76 232
Jack McDonnell 80 79 74 233
Mel Deasy 78 78 77 233
Senan Carroll 80 74 79 233
Luke Lynch 76 80 78 234
Dave Kinneen 75 81 79 235
Paul Buckley 77 80 80 237
Annraoi Collins 84 77 77 238
Ruairi O'Connor 80 79 79 238
Dave Reddan 83 74 81 238
Stephen O'Neill 84 77 78 239
Mark Shanahan 77 80 82 239
Dean McMahon 74 81 84 239
Anton O'Callaghan 81 80 79 240
Jack Egan 77 82 81 240
Eoghan O'Donnell 76 81 85 242
