Putting woes fail to derail Murray

Noel Murray struggled with his putter at Royal County Down (pictured) but still managed to win the Ping PGA Grand Prix event with a level par 71, two shots ahead of Damian Mooney.

Murray got off to super start with a birdie at the first where he steered a drive and eight iron to eight feet. However, he dropped a shot at the fifth when he had his first of five three-putts on the day.

A gap wedge to two feet set up birdie two at the seventh and he turned in one-under-par 34.

The homeward nine was a pot-pourri of birdies, pars and bogeys. Another three-putt on the 10th for bogey brought the Massereene assistant back to regulation but he went one under again with an eight foot birdie putt at the 11th.

A three-putt for par at 12 and another three stab for bogey five at 15 were followed by a birdie three at the 377-yards 16th hole where Murray drove the green. He gave that shot back to the course again with his fifth three-putt of the round at 17 as he came home in one-over-par 37.

Mourne +3 handicapper Reeve Whitson, won the amateur’s gross prize on 73 while the top nett award was collected by Simon Erwin, who plays of two at Holywood. Murray and Erwin also won the ‘team’ event on 40 points.

The last two Grand Prix events will be played at Ballycastle and Castlerock, after which the qualifiers will head to Ballyliffin on March 20 for the final of the Conor Mallon Memorial Trophy.