Shane Lowry and John Murphy tied second with one round to go at St Andrews

almost 4 years in The Irish Times

Shane Lowry and Kinsale’s John Murphy will both go into the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in a tie for second place after impressive 67s at St Andrews.
Murphy is set for the biggest day of his young career so far on Sunday as he looks to continue his very impressive European Tour debut.
After round of 69 at both Carnoustie and Kingsbarns over the first two days, the 22-year-old defied tough conditions at the Old Course on Saturday to move up the leaderboard to 11 under, three behind leader Danny Willett and tied with Lowry, Richard Bland and Tyrrell Hatton.
Murphy started at the 10th and made an opening birdie before adding another at the 18th. He then picked up three more shots at the first, fifth and eighth to complete a bogey-free round.
The Cork native is a recent graduate of the University of Louisville where he enjoyed a stellar collegiate career and he wrapped up his amateur days with an impressive Walker Cup showing at Seminole in May.
After turning pro he has had some starts on the Challenge Tour, including top-11 finishes in Germany and Denmark, but this week is his European Tour debut, leaving him well in line for the biggest cheque of his career so far.
Meanwhile, Lowry has eyes on a fifth career victory just a week after his Ryder Cup debut. The Offalyman came flying out of the blocks on Saturday with four birdies in a row from the second to the fifth before he added another at the eighth to go out in just 31.



Shane Lowry fired a third round of 67. Photo: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images


The 34-year-old slowed up a bit on the back nine with a bogey on the 10th and just one birdie on the 16th but a superb up and down around the Road Hole bunker at the 17th helped to get him right into the mix with one round to go.
Afterwards he told Sky Sports that some fatigue is kicking in after the emotion of last week but his competitive nature remains intact even in the tough conditions.
“There’s a bit of fatigue alright,” he said. “It’s a bit of a come down from last week but it’s still a big tournament. I’m a competitor, I’m a competitive person so I’m giving it my own.
“I’m okay with the wind. The back nine was playing incredibly tough, I shot level par on the back with a bad bogey on 10 and I would have taken that. Anybody that’s involved in golf or is into golf knows this place is one of the most special in the world so to lift that trophy on the 18th green would be special.”
When asked if he, his amateur partner Gerry McManus and his dad Brendan would be having a pint or two tonight, Lowry was quick to reply that he might have to avoid their company this evening.
“I think I’ll have to run away from them tonight. You’re going to get me in trouble with my ma!”
At the top of the leaderboard, Willett will take a three-shot lead into the final round after a 66 to get to 14 under par.
Paul Dunne and Pádraig Harrington both missed the third round cut with rounds of 74 and 69 respectively while a 78 for Cormac Sharvin and a 75 for Jonathan Caldwell saw them finish a long way off the cut mark. Michael Hoey made it into the final round with a 71 leaving him in a tie for 26th at five under.
Full scores to follow...

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