John Murphy capitalised on his recent good form with a win on the Clutch Pro Tour in Essex last week.  Murphy was two shots behind the leader going into the final round, and five birdies in his final 11 holes got him into a three-way playoff.  After a 6^th and 11^th place finish in previous events, Murphy took the top prize after a textbook par in the playoff.

Speaking to Irish Golfer after his win, Murphy described how the sudden death playoff unfolded.  I actually thought it was to get into a two-way playoff – I didn’t realise that OJ Farrell had finished with a birdie to make it a three-way – so that lessened the chances a little, but I pulled the number one card in the playoff and that first tee shot is very intimidating but I hit a beautiful one and the two lads didn’t hit really bad shots, they just pushed them into the trees a little which is so easily done and had to chip out and made bogey. They’d actually putted out by the time I hit my 25-foot birdie putt, so I knew I had two putts to win.

This was Murphy’s second win on the Clutch Tour, his first came five years ago in June 2021 just two weeks after turning pro.  Murphy won the event in Cairndhu in Co Antrim which was the ideal start to a season that would see him go on to earn a Challenge Tour Card.  Promotion to the DP World Tour followed in 2023 but since then Murphy has struggled to find form and consistency.  After a mixed year on the HotelPlanner Tour and Alps Tour last year, Murphy has decided to focus on Clutch Pro Tour this year.  He’s currently in second place on the Order of Merit, with the top three at the end of the season set to earn cards for the HotelPlanner Tour.  Murphy’s next event is in St Mellion in Cornwall next week.