John Murphy will take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Winter Series Marbella event at Rio Real Golf Club after a six-under 66 on day two.
The Kinsale man shot a bogey-free five-under to take a share of the first round lead, and bettered it by one on day two to take sole possession.
Birdies on the opening two holes and an eagle on the seventh was an ideal start to round two, but his bogey-free run came to an end on the ninth. He regrouped to birdie the ninth and make the turn at four-under on the day and -9 overall.
He continued to dominate the par-5s on the back nine, birdieing the 13th and then making his second eagle of the day on 16, ensuring that he played the four long holes in six-under, before a bogey at the last which dropped him back to -11 and he takes a one-stroke lead over Frederik Birkelund of Austria into the final round.
It’s been an otherwise disappointing event for the Irish, with Luke O’Neill next best at +4, James Sugrue one shot further back, and Robert Moran and Luke Cunningham sitting at +8 through 36 holes.
Sam Murphy and Cathal MacCanna missed the cut.
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