Murray's sights set on Europe

Alan Murray plans to spend a few days this week as an observer, rather than as an active participant. "I'm under strict orders to take it easy," quipped the 20-yearold Greystones player, who has played virtually non-stop golf in recent months, and who demonstrated nerves of steel in winning the Irish Youths Amateur Open Championship at Headfort last Friday.

On Sunday next, Murray will return to the competitive circuit when he flies out to Belgium for the European Youths Team Championship, where Ireland will be seeking a fifth win in 12 attempts. Indeed, foreign travel is very much on his mind at the present, as he intends to take up a scholarship to the University of Toledo in the autumn.

Ironically, David Jones, the player he beat in a marathon, five-hole play-off in the Irish Youths last week, is actually staying in the Murray household this week when the Ulster player will be among the favourites for the Leinster Boys Championship, which starts at Arklow today. Indeed, Murray intends to travel down with his friend to watch the championship and also plans to call in to the Irish Open in Druids Glen.

So, it was particularly tough that Jones should be the player whom Murray, who has known his own heartbreak in the past, overcame to claim the Irish Youths crown. Murray, who was runner-up in the championship last year and also came second in the Munster Youths in 1997, was two-under-par for the five play-off holes, but remarked: "It is especially tough when you are head-to-head with a really good friend."

Nobody will begrudge Murray his win, though. It was thoroughly deserved for a player whose only previous "major" was the Connacht Boys title a few years ago, but who has been consistently knocking on the door at youths championship level for two years. Since the start of the season, Murray has competed extensively but has shown little evidence of fatigue. "Playing so much golf actually keeps you sharp, particularly with your short game," insisted Murray.

"My target at the start of the year was to make the team for the European Youths and, thankfully, I've achieved that," he said. Murray is also anxious to make the Leinster team for the Inter provincial championships in Portstewart in August.

His selection on the Irish team for the Europeans in Royal Waterloo next week wasn't unexpected. In the two international outings this season - against Wales and Scotland - he was the only player to win all four matches, a sure sign of his competitive instincts. That Irish team for Belgium is: Murray (Greystones), Michael Hoey (Shandon Park), Ricky Elliott (Royal Portrush), Colm Moriarty (Athlone), Tim Rice (Limerick) and Dan Sugrue (Killarney). Sugrue, who was non-travelling reserve for the matches against Wales and Scotland, has been elevated at the expense of Tramore's Alan Thomas.

Murray will be joining an ever-expanding Irish colony in Toledo when he jets out to the States at the end of August.

Already studying in Toledo are Limerick's Rice, who won the Scottish Youths Open championship two weeks ago, and Royal Portrush's Elliott, winner of the Leinster Youths Open earlier this month.