Zach Murray News & More

GOLF Golfer

5yOn-the-rise Zach Murray carded an error-free 6-under-par 31-35=66 to lie T6 after round one of the Vic Open at 13th Beach Golf Links.

The 22-year-old played the easier Creek Course, but he’ll be mighty pleased with his progress and he’s just three blows back of the leader Alejandro Canizares. His first nine was a sedate affair, including eight pars and a birdie at the sixth. He hit his straps shortly afterward with three birdies in the first four holes after the turn, at the tenth, 12th and 13th. He then leapt into contention with an eagle-3 at the 18th. A two-time winner down under last year, his resulting second-placed spot on the Australasian Tour got him an ET card and he’s opened with T36 in the Australian PGA Championship and T21 at the HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship. A local, this is his seventh start in the event - he’s seeking a first top 20.

Zach Murray

GOLF Golfer

5yWorld No. 520 Zach Murray briefly had the lead on day one of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and, despite running out of gas at the finish, posted a 5-under-par 32-35=67 to end the opener in a tie for fifth and three back from leaders Renato Paratore and Shaun Norris.

The Aussie is making his tournament debut but took an immediate liking to Abu Dhabi GC this morning, roaring to 7-under after eight birdies against a bogey in his first 13 holes. Those red numbers came in an early burst at 1, 2, 4 and 5 while a bogey at 3 meant his first par didn’t arrive until the 6th. The 22-year-old, who was T36 at the Aussie PGA on his last start in December, continued on his merry way with further circles at 8, 10, 11 and 13. A really low one looked on the cards at that point but a 5-5-5 finish, equal to bogey-bogey-par, took him out of the lead. Still, this was a fine day for Murray and he’s one to keep an eye on.

Zach Murray

GOLF Golfer

6yOnly three afternoon starters ended day one of the Maybank Championship in the top 14 and Zach Murray was one of them thanks to a 4-under-par 34-34=68 on his first ever lap of Saujana G&CC.

That was actually the joint-best lap of the late starters (matched by two others) and left the young Aussie star in a tie for seventh, three behind Marcus Fraser and Nacho Elvira in T1. Murray is making just his fourth start on the European Tour this week but had sleeper status due to a win at the New Zealand Open earlier this month. Birdies are the requirement this week and Murray made a bunch of them in NZ when opening 63-65. The 21-year-old made six red numbers today, pacing them throughout his round (3, 6, 9, 13, 16 and 18). He dropped shots on the par-5 5th and par-4 17th but showed good attitude to bounce back with a birdie each time. A name to look out for if today is anything to go by.