Surprise as champion Murray crashes out

LIMERICK’S Pat Murray yesterday relinquished his grip on the Golfsure Irish Amateur Close Championship when failing to come through the 36 hole qualifying rounds in glorious conditions at Royal Dublin.

The highly impressive winner at Enniscrone 12 months ago was strangely at odds with his game over the weekend and rounds of 78 and 80 left him four strokes outside the cut-off mark.

Murray wasn’t the only big name to make his exit as he was joined on the sidelines by North of Ireland champion Wayne Telford (Rathmore). Telford suffered the biggest meltdown of all given that Saturday’s one under par 71 left him only a shot off the first round pace set by Richard O’Donovan of Lucan. However, he could do little right yesterday when he took 17 shots more in a round of 88.