Ireland’s Jack Murphy produced a round of the day 63, and Fulford course record, to ease clear in stroke play qualifying at The R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship in Yorkshire.
Over the testing Fulford lay out, Murphy was on fine form to post seven birdies and an eagle and sit three shots ahead after the opening round.
In July, he became the first person to retain the Munster Boys’ title in 50 years and has continued his form this week.
Meantime, in the Girls’ Amateur Championship, Meja Ortengen – one of the top-ranked players in the field – also shone in England’s north-east.
Ganton for match play stages
The Swede is placed 13th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®) and showed her class to record a five-under-par 69 at Ganton, the same mark as Spaniard Marina Joyce Moreno.
Like last year at Carnoustie when the match play stages of the Boys’ and Girls’ Amateur were played simultaneously at one venue, the same format is taking place this week for the prestigious under-18 championships.
Stroke play qualifying is taking place at renowned venues Ganton and Fulford before the knock-out stages move to Ganton for the conclusion of both championships.
From a field of 144 players representing 29 countries in both events, the top 64 players will qualify for the match play stages.