Overnight equal leader Anthony Houston’s even par round 72 in tough conditions, including a chip-in eagle, was enough to win the tournament.

Murray, 16, finished the four-day open amateur event tied for second with Victorian Open men’s amateur champion Anthony MacDonald, at four under par.

The Wodonga Catholic College student’s final round 73, included birdies on two of the last five holes as he tried to haul in the leaders.

Murray said wind gusts of up to 70km/h had battered the players throughout the day and saw him three over at the turn.

He then birdied the 13th and had three-metre putt for eagle on the par 5 16th before making another birdie.

At the same hole Houston chipped in for eagle but was still a shot behind Queenslander MacDonald.

But the tournament turned on the par-3 17th, the leader taking double bogey and leaving Houston in front by one.

Murray said he was disappointed in losing after being so close but was taking the positives from the experience.

“Both those blokes played in the final of the Victorian Amateur last year, both are in their early 20s,” he said.

“They just had the strength and maturity to hit it through the wind and that will come in time.

“I had to rely on my short game today to stay in contact and I was happy with the way I fought out the final few holes.

“This is one of the biggest events on the amateur calendar.”

Three players inside the top 20 at The Australian Open — Alistair Presnell (5th), Brady Watt (8th) and Bryden Macpherson (tied for 17th) — have all been winners of the Dunes Medal in the past decade, while world No.11 Jason Day took the title in 2005 as an 18-year-old.

Murray had just six hours sleep between a flight from China after winning the Aaron Baddeley International and the opening round at Sorrento on Tuesday.

But he is not about to rest just yet.

“I’ll be back on the Border tonight and hopefully I can help Albury win the pennant final on Sunday,” he said.

“John Barfoot played fantastic the last time we played Thurgoona and I expect the same again on Sunday — it will be a tough match.”