PROSPECT, KY (August 3, 2021) – Crestwood’s Jim Murphy will be motoring his way to the Motor City later this month to compete in the U.S. Senior Amateur after successfully qualifying today at Nevel Meade Golf Club. The Prospect facility played host to the Commonwealth’s lone qualifier for this USGA championship which is scheduled to take place August 28 – September 2 at Country Club of Detroit.

Playing in the day’s penultimate group, Murphy quickly moved up the leaderboard with three birdies in his first six holes that led to an outward nine of 32 (-4). Two pars on holes 10 and 11 would be the last of their kind in his round, as his next six holes were composed of either birdies or bogeys. That led to Murphy coming to the 18^th needing to make birdie to clinch the one qualifying spot available, whereas par would have meant a playoff with Buddy Bryant who was in the clubhouse with 70 (-2). Murphy rose to the occasion when it mattered most, got his birdie on the closing par-five, and will now make the journey to compete in Michigan later this month against the best senior amateurs in the world.

Bryant is the first alternate by virtue of his runner-up finish. A playoff was needed to determine the second and final alternate spot after Chester Musselman and Lance Lucas each recorded scores of 71 (-1). Musselman won that playoff to solidify that spot.

NOTES & STATS

• One eagle was made in this qualifier with Harry Tarpley doing so on the par-five 18^th hole.
• The 18^th was the day’s easiest hole. Along with the eagle from Tarpley, it was the only hole to register ten or more birdies throughout the day. Its stroke-to-par average was -0.24.
• The par-four 12^th was the most difficult hole with an average of +0.62. Mike Damron registered the only birdie of the day on this hole.
• The back nine was certainly the harder of the two nines, as it averaged 39.02 strokes compared to 37.75 from the front nine.
  • Combining those scores, the day’s scoring average was 76.77.

Click here to view the final results

The Kentucky Golf Association extends its thanks to Robert Costello, PGA and his team at Nevel Meade for their assistance in creating a successful qualifier today. The KGA expresses appreciation towards each participant of the event as well.

This event marked the second-to-last USGA qualifier in Kentucky for the year. The final qualifier that will be conducted by the KGA takes place next Thursday, August 12 from Gibson Bay Golf Course when U.S. Mid-Amateur qualifying is held.