Consistent Turner finishes in fine style to edge out Murphy
The 19 years old, a UCC student, was honoured by Irish and European boys selectors in recent times, was a model of consistency and scored 70 in both rounds to clinch his first senior scratch cup.
And he finished in style, when after starting at the 11th hole in this shotgun event, he birdied the 9th and 10th (his last two holes) to edge out Waterville’s Mark Murphy on a count-back.
Former international Murphy, who plays off plus one, was the early pacemaker in the P J O’Hea sponsored competition and his brilliant morning 68 looked good enough to stave off any challenge in the 79 strong field.
In that best of the day opener - four under par - Murphy eagled the par fives - the 3rd and 18th - and he birdied the fourth and fifth as well.
The score gave him a two strokes lead at halfway over Peter O’Keeffe of the host club and Turner with Cormac Finn, Douglas, and Ian Spillane, Mallow, two shots further adrift on 72.
Murphy did little wrong in the afternoon and finished with a birdie at the fifth (his last hole) for level par but his 140 overall failed on the breakdown.
Douglas players O’Keeffe and Aaron O’Callaghan finished third and fourth respectively with O’Callaghan scoring an excellent 69 second time out.
John Waldron, Muskerry, with 144 and Mark Ford, Cork, 145 completed the top six. Douglas members Derek Byrne and Roy Clarke filled the top two places in the overall nett section.
Meanwhile Ireland’s youths team easily defeated Wales in the J D McCormack Cup competition at wet and windy Ashburnham.
It was Ireland’s fifth success on the trot and Michael Burns’ led team had a 7-2 victory margin on this occasion.
They got off to a tremendous start with the Brian McElhinney/David Ryan; Conor Doran/Greg Bowdren and Robert McCarthy/Philip McLoughlin combinations winning the three foursomes matches.
Ryan, Bowdren and Doran followed up with singles successes while McElhinney and McCarthy halved their ties.
In Irish Junior Foursomes competition, Bantry Bay qualified to meet Mahon in the South Munster section matchplay.
Bantry finished on 144.5 at Kinsale to finish six strokes clear of Bandon with Berehaven next on 155. Both Bantry pairings performed consistently with Brian O’Sullivan (9) and Gavin Mullins (12) netting 71.5 and Brian Andrews (6) and Jason Andrews (12) scoring 73.
Douglas scratch player Aaron O’Callaghan went round Dunmore in a splendid 65 - one under par - to lead his club to a facile victory in the Irish Club Youths qualifying section. Roy Clarke backed up with a 73 to give Douglas a 143 total - comfortably clear of Fota Island, Monktown and Cork.
