Sam Murphy’s attacking policy pays off with Irish Boys Championship at Thurles

The Portumna teenager carded a bogey-free seven-under-par 65, the round of the week to clinch the coveted national title

Sam Murphy (Portumna, right) winner of the 2020 Irish Boys Under 18 Amateur Close Championship with his father Brian at Thurles Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

Sam Murphy did more than just hang onto his overnight lead at the Irish Boys Championship, the Portumna teenager disappeared over the horizon from the rest of the field in Thurles on Wednesday.

Murphy, who turned 18 last week, had taken a two-stroke lead into the third and final round in Tipperary thanks to a four-under-par 68 on Tuesday. Yet there was no thought about protecting that lead and his attacking strategy reaped dividends with a bogey-free seven-under-par 65, the round of the week to clinch the coveted national title.