GEORGE MURRAY BEATEN IN PLAY-OFF ON
CHALLENGE TOUR IN NORWAY

From Michael Gibbons
Press Officer, European Challenge Tour

George Murray’s bid for his maiden professional victory fell at the final hurdle today after he lost a play-off for the European Challenge Tour’s Lexus Open in Norway.
The Anstruther 24 year old could not match Austrian Martin Wiegele’s par 4 at the first extra hole and had to settle for second place and a cheque for €14,300.
Murray, who was leading by one at the start of the final round at Miklagard Golf Club, dropped two shots in his opening three holes but mounted a fine comeback with five birdies to tie Wiegele at the top of the 72-hole scoreboard on 10-under-par 278.
But the Austrian, who had surged through the field with an excellent six under 66, proved irresistible in the sudden-death shoot-out, nailing a drive down the centre of the fairway before Murray blocked his tee shot into 12 inch rough.
The Scot could not reach the par-4 green with his second shot and hacked his ball across the fairway into more rough. Wiegele found the green with his second shot, leaving himself a 25ft birdie putt. Murray made the green with his third but then missed his 12ft par putt, leaving Wiegele to knock in a three-footer for the title.
Murray can take some consolation in the fact that he climbed 27 places on the Challenge Tour Rankings, from 61st to 34th – taking a great step towards the Challenge Tour’s all important top 20.
Murray’s second place was also the best finish of his professional career, and given that the former Scottish amateur champion has been improving steadily throughout his first season as a professional, it should not be long before he makes a winning breakthrough.
Aberdeen’s Scott Henderson was the next best Scot in the Lexus Open field, finishing in a tie for 10th place on three-under-par 285 which was a very creditable finish, given the trauma of having his personal cheque book stolen from his hotel room at the Scottish Challenge at Cardrona.

LEXUS OPEN LEADING FINAL TOTALS

278 M Wiegele (Aut) 68 71 73 66, G Murray (Sco) 68 71 70 69. Wiegele (20,800 Euros) bt Murray (14,300 Euros) at first hole of play-off.
281 M Bothma (SAf) 70 73 73 65 (9,100 Euros).
283 G Maybin (NIr) 72 70 68 73, F Delamontagne (Fra) 72 70 71 70 (7,150 Euros each).
Other Scots scores:
285 S Henderson 73 69 70 72 (jt 10th) (2,643 Euros).
287 M Urquhart 73 73 70 71 (jt 18th) (1,427 Euros).
288 R Ramsay 74 71 70 73, P Whiteford 77 70 72 69 (jt 24th) (1,105 Euros each).
297 E Ramsay 73 73 75 76 (61st) (403 Euros).