Murphy leads at halfway mark in Portumna

Sam Murphy in action during the Connacht Stroke Play in Portumna. Photo: Thos Caffrey / Golffile

Portumna’s Sam Murphy said he learned from last week’s East of Ireland playoff defeat and he proved he certainly means business after surging five shots clear on 10-under in the Connacht Stroke Play on his home track at halfway.

Portumna provided the perfect backdrop and the 20-year-old used all of his experience to card rounds of 68 and 66.

Scores

Last week Murphy performed heroics to reach a three-man play-off at the East of Ireland, only to lose out to Alex Maguire.

He said he is using that experience after battling it out with Maguire and former Walker Cup star Caolan Rafferty.

“It was nice to go head-to-head against the two boys,” said Murphy.

“You definitely learn a lot when you lose. Last week was really good. Did a lot for my confidence. When you are competing against them two it’s really good and competing in one of the big championships is nice.”

Murphy was also the leader after the first round m in Portumna, one shot clear of Castlewarden’s Kevin Robinson Douglas’ Jack Murphy and Tipperary’s Donnacha Cleary.

Four birdies in the first eight holes put Murphy in the ascendency and despite a bogey on the 14th, another birdie on the penultimate hole helped him to card an opening 68.

Cleary maintained his push in the afternoon, he finished on five-under while Forrest Little’s Jack McDonnell carded a 69 to move into solo third on four-under

But it was Murphy who really excelled, his clean scorecard was impressive with six birdies dotted throughout, including on seven, eight and nine, as he took a five-shot lead into the final 36 holes.

“It was a bit scrappy now. When I made the turn it was a bit scrappy from one until seven. I made a nice putt on seven and then managed to put together a few nice swings coming home and made a few birdies,” said Murphy.

“I made a lot of nice putts. I haven’t really been working too much on it, they’re home greens, they’re always really good, you know the breaks. Get it on line and it should go in.”