Ireland’s Gary Murphy is just one shot off the lead at the European Tour’s Qualifying School in Spain. Murphy fired a 64 at Emporda to grab a share of third place behind England’s Phil Archer and Spain’s Eduardo de la Riva who top the combined leaderboard for the Emporda and Pals courses on 13-under-par totals of 130.
Murphy was delighted with his flawless round and said “I didn't drop a shot today which was the key. I dropped three yesterday which was disappointing but none today which was a lot better. You have to be able to putt if you are going to do well in the Tour School so hopefully I will be able to keep that going for the rest of the tournament.”
Damien McGrane is eight-under, also after an excellent 64 today. Gary Cullen is seven-under after he followed up his first round 63 with a 72. Stephen Browne, who shot a brilliant 65 yesterday, dropped to four-under after a 73 today, Philip Walton is 57th on three under after a 71 at Pals. “I played scrappy, the former Ryder Cup man commented. “I missed a lot of fairways, so it was a good score considering.” Last year's British amateur champion Michael Hoey, who began the event with a quadruple bogey eight and a round of 77, hit back with a 65 at Emporda, but is still only joint 98th at level par, while Daniel Sugrue is two-over-par, 14 shots behind the leaders.
The top 75 and ties will survive the cut after Monday's fourth round.
Filed by James Boylan.
