Portumna amateur Sam Murphy is likely to turn pro after securing full Category 6 status for the 2026 Alps Tour campaign having finished tied for third at Final Qualifying in Rome.
The former Connacht Strokeplay winner and Grand Canyon University alumni entered the final round in sole possession of the lead and with a two-stroke advantage as the entire field moved over to Golf Nazionale on the outskirts of the Eternal City.
Birdies on the second and sixth holes – both par-4s – consolidated his lead, but a disastrous run of three holes where he made a ‘nine’ on the par-5 seventh, and followed with bogeys on the par-4 eighth and par-3 ninth saw him surrender the advantage.
Securing playing status for next year, however, remained the primary goal, and he dusted himself off and played the back nine in one-under, trading three birdies with two bogeys, to close out with a three-over 75 that left him on -8 overall and in a three-way tie for third, two shots behind leading qualifier Alexis Leray of France with Spain’s Josep Maria Serra Busquet taking solo second at -9.
Former League of Ireland footballer Stephen Grant and Carton House’s Cathal MacCanna, also competing as amateurs, will also have the option of turning pro after earning Category 8 status with the former finishing tied for 64th and the latter coming T68.
“I’m very happy with the result of this week and being able to earn a full playing category on the Alps Tour for 2026,” said Leray after finishing top of the pile. “This was my first time on the Alps Tour, so being able to get the full playing status, I’m very happy. My mentality this week was great, and I’m very happy with how I managed the golf courses and the ups and downs. That’s something I’ll be taking away from this week, as I feel I did well. It’s not my last event of the season, so I’m excited to keep going, but I’m already looking forward to beginning the 2026 season in Egypt.”
Marc Boucher and Tom Dowdall both missed the cut, but still earn Category 9 status for the upcoming season.
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