February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Murphy finished 10 under par at 274 (70-69-68-67), his best finish in a European Tour event. The placing may very well ensure Murphy’s return to the Tour in 2004.
Between Els and Murphy came Darren Clarke and Phillip Price, the previous week’s winner at the K Club. The duo shot 272. Clarke’s cards read 69, 70, 64 and 69. Rounding out the scoreboard were Paul McGinley, tied for 20th place at 279 (73-71-67-68) and Graeme McDowell, tied for 69th at 288 (71-71-72-74). Ronan Rafferty, with 146 (74-72) for 36 holes, missed the cut by a stroke, while Peter Lawrie carded 150 (78-72).
EUROPEAN SENIORS TOUR
Denis O’Sullivan opened with a first-round 67, good for second place in the Mobile Cup at Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire, England. But O’Sullivan, who has been plagued with back problems over the years, withdrew after three holes of the second round.
Liam Higgins tied for seventh place at three-under-par 210 (69-70-71). Eddie Polland’s 219 (70-77-72) landed him in a tie for 29th place. Carl Mason shot 203 to win the trophy.
SENIOR PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP
Neither Des Smyth nor Eamonn Darcy made much of a dent in the Ford Senior Players championship at TPC of Michigan in Dearborn. Smyth tied for 48th place with 295 (70-78-76-71), seven over par, while Darcy shared 56th place at 297 (73-76-76-72). Smyth pocketed $7,750, while Darcy’s cut came to $5,000. Craig Stadler won the event with a score of 271.
GOLDEN BEAR TOUR
Ricky Elliott tied for 25th place in the Waterford Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. He was two under par after 54 holes at 214 (70-70-74) and won a check for $1,332. John O’Leary shot 218 (73-69-76) to share 47th place. He earned $682.
CANADIAN TOUR
Richard Coughlan finished amidst a group tied at 25th position after a harrowing final round. The Offaly man went into the fourth and final round of the MTS Classic at Pine Ridge Golf Club in Winnipeg, Manitoba tied for eighth place, four strokes off the lead. But he shot 79 in the final stanza to finish with 287 (68-70-70-79), 12 strokes behind Jon Mills, the medallist. He earned $1,325.
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