Murray claims Close Championship

LIMERICK’S Pat Murray claimed his first amateur major in stunning fashion after capturing the Golfsure Irish Amateur Close Golf Championship title at Enniscrone Golf Club, Co Sligo this Wednesday.
Thirty seven-year-old Murray, the general manager at Limerick Golf Club, produced a sparkling display in the final to convincingly defeat Irish international Cian Curley, of Newlands, by 5 & 4.


Murray had come agonisingly close to winning a top amateur title several times over his long and distinguished career. However, he finally managed to collect a top prize with a tremendous run of golf over five days at the spectacular Enniscrone links venue.
Murray, who has also been an Irish international in the past, joins a distinguished list of ‘Close’ winners. The roll of honour includes the likes of current top professionals, Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke, Graham McDowell and Peter Lawrie, as well as rising young stars on the European Tour, Rory McIlroy, a ‘Close’ winner in 2005 and 2006 and 2007 champion Shane Lowry.
Murray, who played at the Irish Open Golf Championships when it was played at Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort in recent years, got off to a good start with a winning par at the first hole where Curley missed the green on the left and took two more to find the putting surface.
After halves at the par five 2nd hole, Murray went two up with a birdie two at the spectacular 208 yards par three 3rd hole.
The par five fourth was halved in pars and the Limerick man increased his lead to three holes with a birdie three at the 450 yards 5th hole. Curley hit back with a winning birdie three at the 424 yards 6th hole to cut his deficit to two holes.
The pair halved the 7th and 8th in pars, but Murray increased his lead to three holes with a birdie three at the 449 yards par four 9th hole. The 10th, 11th and 12th holes were halved in pars, but at the 13th hole Curley mistakenly played Murray’s ball and lost the hole to go four down.
The match ended at the 14th when Curley conceded Murray’s putt for a winning birdie four. At the Par 5, Murray hit a magnificent two-iron approach shot from 240 yards into the breeze to within 20 feet of the pin.
The Limerick-based player rolled his eagle putt to four feet and his next putt for birdie was conceded.
Close champions from the Mid-West are rare. John Burke, of Lahinch, won on 8 occasions between 1930 and 1947. Vincent Nevin, of Limerick Golf Club prevailed at Rosses Point in 1969 while Jackie Harrington, of Adare Manor, emerged victorious at Ballybunion in 1979 and Tom Corridan, playing out of Castletroy, came out on top in Killarney in 1983.
In Wednesday morning’s semi-finals, Pat Murray secured a thumping 6 & 5 win over Andrew Hogan of Newlands. Murray, having halved the first hole, won the next five holes. Hogan won the 7th, but lost the 8th which left the Limerick golfer five up at the turn.
Murray lost the par three 11th hole , but restored his five holes advantage by winning the 12th hole and clinched victory with a birdie three at the 13th hole.

Colm Kinsella