Waterville native Mark Murphy was just 22 years old when he won the top amateur award at the Murphy’s Irish Open at Ballybunion Golf Club in July of 2000; now a quarter of a century later, he spoke to Fergus Dennehy about his memories of that special week.
MAIN: 22-year-old Waterville native Mark Murphy pictured in 2000 after winning the top Amateur award at the Murphy’s Irish Open at Ballybunion Golf Club.
INSET: Mark pictured in the present day with his wife Larra. The couple now live in Jupiter, Florida with their children.
Picture the scene. It’s July of 2000 and at 22 years old and fresh off winning the leading amateur award at the Irish Open in his home county, Waterville native Mark Murphy, in his own words, feels like the world is his oyster.
After four rounds at the stunning Ballybunion, he has finished in 77th place (with a score of 8+) in the national Open, beating out big-name players such as the late Seve Ballesteros (who missed the cut) while other stars of the future such as Justin Rose and Ian Poulter also went home early before the weekend.
