Murphy Wins Sunnehanna Amateur in Playoff

June 14, 2014

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — South Carolina rising senior Will Murphy defeated Sam Burns in a three-hole aggregate playoff to win the 61st Sunnehanna Amateur on Saturday at Sunnehanna Country Club.

The tournament came down to a playoff after both Murphy and Burns finished the fourth round with a total of 274 (-6). Murphy made par and bogey on the first two playoff holes, while Burns carded two bogeys. Burns was unable to birdie the third playoff hole, leaving Murphy with a par putt for the win, and the Columbia, S.C., native sank the putt to claim the title.

Murphy was under par in all four rounds this week, shooting scores of 69 (-1), 67 (-3), 69 (-1) and 69 (-1). The win is his third top-10 finish at an amateur event in the last four months, as he tied for sixth at the Palmetto Amateur last week and won the Azalea Invitational in March. He entered the summer with plenty of momentum after finishing tied for 15th at the NCAA Championship to earn his first career All-America honor.

Gamecock rising junior Matt NeSmith also played at Sunnehanna Country Club this week and finished tied for 26th with a total of 285 (+5), carding rounds of 71, 73, 71 and 70.