CHAMPION young Wodonga golfer Zach Murray has come agonisingly close to making the quarter-finals of the US Junior Amateur Championships in Texas.
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After being three down against US-based second seed Sam Horsfield with five holes to play, Murray scorched back into contention to take the matchplay clash to the 18th hole.
Murray needed to birdie but his 15-foot putt lipped the cup and he was knocked out of the tournament.
The Wodonga Catholic College student was bitterly disappointed with the result.
“I tried my heart out,” Murray, 17, said.
“I gave it everything but wasn’t good enough.
“I’m proud of what I have achieved this week and am looking forward to playing in Britain.”
Murray earlier defeated Philip Barbaree three and two in searing heat.
He qualified for the matchplay after a 1-under, T18 finish in the 36-hole stroke play title that had him well inside the matchplay rounds top 64.
Curtis Luck, who won the Western Australia Amateur Championship, the Victorian Junior Masters Championship and the NSW Stroke Play Championship this year, was the only Australian to make the quarter-finals.
Murray has little time to rest on his laurels with the young gun flying to Britain tomorrow.
He will play in the Royal Birkdale Junior Boys Championship before turning to St Andrews Boys Championship and British Boys Championship.
“It will be good getting all this links experience,” Murray said.
