Murphy on fire in Hawaii
KINSALE’S John Murphy fired back-to-back 65’s to clinch a career-best second place finish for the University of Louisville in the Warrior Princeville Makai Invitational in Hawaii.
The “Cardinals” had to settle for third place in the event behind Pepperdine and Missouri, but Murphy lit up the tournament with some sensational play.
Winner of the St Andrews Links Trophy earlier this year, the Irish international opened with a 71 before catching fire to finish just three shots behind Blake Elliott from McNeese State on 15-under par.
His seven-under 65 in Monday’s second round moved him into fifth place before he signed off with a
nine-birdie 65 in round three.
Starting on the fourth hole in the final round, he birdied the fifth, then followed a doublebogey at the sixth with eight birdies, including a five-in-arow stretch from the eighth.
Oughterard’s Devin Morley tied for 17th on eight under par after rounds of 69, 71 and 70 as the Cardinals finished the fall series with one victory, two second-place finishes and Tuesday’s third place in Hawaii.
Murphy, Morley and Belfast’s Hugh O’Hare, who did not play in Hawaii, will not play again until 2019 when they tee it up in the Mobile Sports Authority Invitational in Alabama from February 11-12.