Noel aims to make it third time lucky

Noel Murray has promised a more aggressive approach to this year’s Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship final after winning the Irish qualifying event.

Murray, of Massereene Golf Club in Northern Ireland, triumphed for the second year running at Co Meath after carding a two under par round of 71 to win by one shot.

He beat Neil O'Briain (Old Conna Golf Club) and Patrick Small (Galway Golf Club) by one shot.

O’Briain will be playing alongside Rory McIlroy in the Irish Open at Royal County Down Golf Club later this month.

The trio will join 11 other qualifiers will head for the £32,500 grand final to be held at Coventry Golf Club on August 5-7.

It will be Murray’s third visit to the West Midlands venue and he is looking to improve again after finishing 19th in 2013 and securing a top 10 place last year.

“I definitely want to finish higher again,” said Murray.

“It’s the kind of course where I know I’ll have to take a few chances and I won’t be afraid to do that.

“If you’re going to win at Coventry you’re going to have to shot 12 to 16 under par. You just have to go there and do it.

“I know the venue now and I know there are chances to be had.

“I plan to play more aggressive golf this time.”

Murray has been working on his swing with Dungannon-based coach Chris Kelly and says the work is paying dividends.

“By the time Coventry comes around I hope I’ll have any problems ironed out,” said Murray, aged 24 and in the final year of his PGA training.

“I’ve been working with Chris for a couple of years and he’s helped my game a lot.”

Murray repeated his victory of 12 months ago at the Trim venue.

But he admitted it was not easy.

“We’re getting hit by bad weather at the moment and it was wet again here,” he said.

“It made life difficult and I had a couple of bogeys on the back nine. But I was happy to win and qualify for the final again.

“The conditions have been a bit disruptive, but I’m heavily involved in the playing side of things at the moment and I’d already had a couple of wins going into this event.”