Murphy back in groove as Kingston heads field

IRELAND’S Gary Murphy lies in a tie for third place at the European Tour’s event in Majorca, three shots off leader James Kingston.

Kingston capitalised on the best of the conditions to shoot a 65 at the Iberdrola Open Cala Millor Mallorca as several players struggled in the latter part of the day.

Kilkenny golfer Murphy has survived only two cuts in 10 starts so far this year.

“I’ve been struggling with the groove change,” he said. “I’m on my fifth set of irons, but have finally got some I feel are doing what they should do.”

He was four under after seven, gave all the shots back, but then birdied the seventh and eighth to climb back into a tie for third.

Kingston (44) ended the day two in front of Spaniard Alvaro Velasco, with Murphy, Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin, Spain’s Alejandro Canizares and Norwegian Thorbjorn Olesen one further back.

Two-time Tour winner kingston said: “I didn’t have a nice day out there yesterday and it’s not one of my favourites, but I was hitting it so well that it was actually an easy round of 65. It’s tricky even without a wind, but when you play nicely you can see the scores.”

Kingston, who birdied three of his last six holes as things became more blustery, is only recently back from a seven-week break during which he visited Zambia and Mozambique with friends and family.

Velasco lost his Tour card last season and did not even make the 72-hole cut at the qualifying school in November.

His ranking on the Spanish order of merit earned him his place in the tournament and he came home in 32.