GEORGE MURRAY ON VERGE OF BREAKTHROUGH
CHALLENGE TOUR WIN IN NORWAY

From Michael Gibbons
Press Officer, European Challenge Tour

Fifer George Murray stands on the verge of a maiden professional victory at the European Challenge Tour’s Lexus Open in Norway after a third round of two under par 70 left him one stroke clear of the field with 18 holes to play.
The former Scottish Amateur champion from Anstruther did not drop a single shot during his third round, and his two birdies helped him post an aggregate score of seven under 209 – one stroke clear of Northern Ireland’s Gareth Maybin, and three ahead of Aberdeen’s Scott Henderson, Julien Foret of France and the Austrian Martin Wiegele.
Victory at the Miklagard Golf Club, which is worth €18,400, would see Murray soar up the Challenge Tour Rankings, from his current position of 61st towards the all-important top 20. The top 20 players at the end of the season automatically win a place on the 2008 European Tour.
The 24 year old has been in contention to win twice this season – in France earlier in the season and then in Scotland last week – but has yet to close out his first win as a professional.
But his recent improvement in form has seen Murray playing some of his best golf since turning professional at the end of last year. If he can repeat his bogey-free third round, he will be a hard man to catch on Sunday afternoon.
Of the chasing pack trying to overhaul Murray’s advantage, Henderson is the most experienced player. The former European Tour Rookie of the Year, posted his own third round 70 that included a bogey 5 on the 18th.
LEADING SCORES
209 G Murray (Sco) 68 71 70.
210 G Maybin (NIr) 72 70 68.
212 S Henderson (Sco) 73 69 70, J Foret (Fra) 72 72 68, M Wiegele (Aut) 68 71 73.
Other Scots scores:
215 R Ramsay 74 71 70 (jt 14th).
216 M Urquhart 73 73 70 (jt 19th).
219 P Whiteford 77 70 72 (jt 40th).
220 G Wright (Wal) 70 77 73 (jt 46th).
221 E Ramsay 73 73 75 (jt 56th).

NEWS FROM ROLEX TROPHY

Meanwhile, Andrew McArthur and Jamie McLeary both missed the cut at The Challenge Tour’s second event of the week, the Rolex Trophy at Geneva Golf Club, Switzerland.
The Scots duo qualified for the elite 39-man event via their exalted position on the Rankings. Despite missing the 54-hole cut, the pair will pick up a cheque for €2,250 – potentially invaluable ranking points as the season enters its final stage.
LEADING SCORES
202 R McGowan (Eng0 69 66 67.
204 M Lorenzo-Vera (It) 71 65 68.
205 C Moriarty (Ire) 69 68 68.
SCOTS' SCORES:
214 A McArthur 72 75 67 (jt 26th).
219 J McLeary 75 72 72.