Laura Murray closer to pro ranks with amateur title triumph

The chances of new Scottish women’s amateur golf champion Laura Murray from Alford bidding for a repeat win next year will recede with each good performance over the next few months.

The prospects of beaten finalist Jane Turner from Penicuik going one better next year when the 99th championship is played at Longniddry, a course in her neck of the woods, are very good.

Murray, now 23, has been talking, for the past two years, about going to the Ladies European Tour School – but has never felt her game was in good enough nick to justify the expense by gaining a player’s card.

But a switch to a new PGA coach – boyfriend Keil Beveridge from the Inchmarlo Golf Centre staff – and a lot of hard work under his guidance during the winter have transformed Murray as a player.

This season she has been top Scot in the “Helen Holm,” top Scot in the Welsh stroke-play, and is now Scottish champion.

“As regards going to Tour School, I would like to hang fire and make the decision towards the end of the season, but if my form continues, then it will be an easy decision to go for it,” said Murray after her two-hole victory over Turner at Tain on Saturday.

“Keil is very simplistic in his approach to coaching and it has worked wonders for me. And now I feel I am on the right road to becoming a tour pro, sooner than later.”

Turner, 22, who will graduate as a graphic designer at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen this summer, was philosophical about losing in her first final.

“If you had told me last weekend that I would be the leading qualifier, reach the final and go all the way to the 18th green, I would have said: Yes, I’ll take it.” she said. “I’m disappointed but I felt I played well.”