John Murphy will go into the final round of the Clutch Pro Tour’s Crondon Park Classic just three shots off the lead after a second successive round of 70 in Essex.
The Kinsale man can count himself unfortunate as his momentum was halted after 12 holes as play was suspended for weather. At that stage he was four-under for the round having birdied both par-5s on the back nine – his first nine – and then added an eagle on the third just before the hooter sounded.
After returning to the clubhouse and having to reset, he came out and bogeyed the fourth and fifth, and though he picked up another birdie on the eighth, he closed out with a bogey-six on the ninth. It was still enough to see him climb into sole possession of second place at -4, trailing only England’s Gary King who finished his round at -7 overall, though several afternoon starters have yet to complete their second rounds.
John Ross Galbraith is next best of the Irish at one-under and tied for 14th with five holes left to play in his round and a strong finish could put him right in the mix.
With the cutline projected to fall at +3, Daniel Mulligan and Robert Brazill (+4) are hoping for help from those left to finish round three as they’re both in the clubhouse, as is Paul McBride on (+5).
Alex Maguire is a shot further back on +6, but he has five holes left to push his way inside the mark, but Marc Boucher, Dermot McElroy, Tom Dowdall, Rory Williamson and Brandon St John are all too far back to see final round action.
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