Murphy shows Walker Cup form in Jones Cup Invitational; Power and McKibbin tied 28th
John Murphy. Photo by Adam Creech | Louisville Athletics
Kinsale’s John Murphy did his hopes of Walker Cup selection no harm when he finished a creditable tied sixth in the prestigious Jones Cup Invitational at Ocean Forest Golf Club at Sea Island.
The University of Louisville star followed rounds of 75 and 72 with a two-under 70 to finish on one-over-par, just three shots behind Swede Ludvig Aberg.
Aberg shot a level par 72 to win by a stroke on two-under from Cole Hammer, Davis Thompson and England’s Alex Fitzpatrick.
Murphy, who is also ranked 29th in the race for 15 exemptions — the top five win Korn Ferry Tour cards and the next 10 MacKenzie Tour cards — via the PGA Tour University rankings, rallied well at Sea Island to finish in the top 10.
He was one-over for the round with five holes to play but birdied the 14th, 15th and 17th to make the top six.
Wake Forest’s Mark Power shot rounds of 75, 74 and 75 to finish tied 28th alongside another potential Walker Cup player in Holywood’s Tom McKibbin, who shot 73, 76 and 75.
Power, Murphy, McKibbin and Dundalk’s Caolan Rafferty all have high hopes of selection for the 48th Walker Cup which will be played at Seminole in Florida from 8-9 May 2021.