Mark Murphy of Waterville - and Gretna, California - carded a final round of level par at the PGA Tour Qualifying School Second Stage at TPC Craig Ranch Golf Club in McKinney, Texas, bringing to an end his campaign for this season and delaying the breakthrough into the major ranks until next year.
Undoubtedly Murphy would have preferred to be making the long drive home to California from Texas worried about his travel bookings for the final stage in Orange County next month. But it was not to be on this occasion for the Irishman either.
Murphy opened the final day with a bogey on the first hole only to recover it with a birdie on the fourth and then traded a birdie and bogey on 7 and 8 holes to make the turn on level par. On the back nine it was the same story with a bogey on the 10th followed by a birdie on 12; then a birdie on 14 which was cancelled out with a bogey on the 16th for a level par 72 for the day – and one under for the tournament in 41st place.
Having finished in a share of eighth place at the First Stage of USPGA Qualifying School at the Lantana Golf Club in Texas last month - after a final round of 68 – to ear a place this week at the Second Stage the end result must be disappointing.
Waterville man Murphy had been hoping to improve this year and reach the final stage having missed out last year by one shot when he finished in a tie for 23rd in St. Augustine, Florida – with only 22 and ties making the cut.
Unfortunately this season Murphy’s hopes of a breakthrough have fallen short - which is disappointment as he has chased the dream since his early days in Waterville when he started caddying for his Father every Sunday and other friends – including on one occasion, the late Payne Stewart.
One time when one of his Father’s best friends, Pat Sullivan, brought a group to Waterville and the young Murphy carried his bag for the 6 days. When the final day came Sullivan stood on the hill on the 15th in Waterville and hit a beautiful shot to within 20 feet.
Turning to Murphy, Sullivan then challenged him to hit a shot to see if he could get inside it – and if he did, Sullivan promised to hand over his new set of golf clubs to the Waterville youngster at the end of the round.
As Murphy explains himself “The blinkers went on and I struck a peach of a 7 iron to around 10 feet. High 5's all around and I picked myself up a brand new set of Tommy Armour 845's for that one shot. I never looked back after that day.”
“I was 14 years old and spent every waking hour I could on the golf course. Summer times me and my buddies some days would play 54 holes, it’s only now I appreciate how lucky we were learning my trade on one of the best links courses in the world, Waterville
Last year Murphy played in the Challenge of Ireland presented by Moyvalley and the previous year in the 2008 Challenge of Ireland presented Glasson, but missed the cut on both occasions.
In 2000 Mark Murphy was runner-up in both West and East of Ireland Championship to Noel Fox of Portmarnock G.C. and represented Ireland the same year.
Three years Murphy equalled the course record of 66 in the Golfsure sponsored Irish Amateur Close Championship in Tramore and equalled Eddie Power's course record at the time – losing to Peter O’Keeffe in Round three 2 and 1.
Fact File
Date of Birth: March 22nd, 1978
Attachment:
Turned Pro: 2002
Original Club: Waterville
Resident: California, USA
