Sam Murphy leads fellow Irishman Robert Moran by two shots heading into the final round of the Alps Tour’s Ein Bay Open in Egypt as he chases his maiden professional victory on his debut.
Murphy tore Sokhna GC apart, hitting 18 greens in a blistering bogey-free round of 65 which left him on ten-under-par and included a sensational six birdies in nine holes before adding a seventh on the third.
The Glenlo Abbey man only turned professional after earning his Alps Tour card via Q-School in the winter and his hopes of progressing to the HotelPlanner Tour could be given a very early boost should he win on Thursday.
“I got off to a good start and knew the conditions would get tougher coming in, especially with the wind picking up over the last few holes. I tried to take advantage early and just play solid golf,” said Murphy who has overcome injury struggles early in his golf career.
“I hit 18 greens and missed only a couple of fairways, so it was a really solid round. It never really felt like I was going to make a bogey. I struck the ball well, and even on the greens. I felt comfortable. It was a pretty stress-free round, which was nice.”
With conditions set to be tricky again on Thursday, the Galway man will stick to the same game plan which has brought him to his first 36-hole lead.
“I’ll stick with the same game plan I’ve had all week. Hopefully the wind settles down tomorrow but it’ll be the same approach: play aggressive when I can and conservative when I have to.”
Meanwhile Moran is in a share of second place on eight-under after a 67 which included six birdies and an eagle. The Dubliner is hunting his third professional win having broke his duck in Marbella before Christmas as he earned two HotelPlanner Tour invites and one to the DP World Tour for this season.
Royal Dublin’s Hugh Foley will need to go low to make up a six shot gap after a 72 left him in a share of eleventh place on four-under.
Cathal MacCanna missed the cut.
Scoring HERE
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