From left – Adam Goudge, Noel Murray and Matt Wylie. (click image to enlarge)
Former Duchy College Tournament Golf student Noel Murray has won his first Pro AM Golf Title at the inaugural Azores Islands Iberian Golf Tour series.
Noel, who studied on the Tournament Golf Foundation Degree, run jointly by Duchy College and approved by the University of Plymouth, only turned pro in October and is already celebrating his first major win. He claimed the individual professional title at the contest off the coast of Portugal.
Noel kept his nerve throughout the competition to win by two shots from local Portuguese player Andre Medeiros. Both players started the final day of competition tied for the lead, but in the final push Noel shot a round of 73 alongside Andre's 75 to win his first professional title. The Tournament Golf course gave Noel the opportunity to engage in rigorous winter training camp with three months in Spain in his first year of study and three months in Portugal in his second year as part of his education.
The Duchy College campus in Portugal is hosted by Pestana Golf Resorts offering a number of excellent courses with fantastic facilities. The rest of the time was spent at Duchy College's Stoke Climsland campus in Cornwall (UK). Whilst at college in the UK he was able to practice at the prestigious St Mellion International Resort one of the toughest tracks in Europe giving him a perfect grounding to launch his career.
A delighted Noel said: "This week has been a lot of fun. The Iberian Golf Tour gives us young players an excellent opportunity to get in some valuable practice and competition away from the harsh conditions we experience back home."
Nick Sherriff, Programme Director for the Tournament Golf course, added: "The Tournament Golf College was extremely pleased to see three of last year's graduates competing again in the Iberian Golf Tour as part of their winter training. All three met up with this year's students during the Gramacho Open event of the Iberian Golf Tour in Portugal to offer advice and support."
He also added "I am very pleased to support this kind of initiative which demonstrates the high esteem in which the course is held by all students of the Tournament Golf programme at Duchy College."
Dave Linnell, Principal of Cornwall College of which Duchy College is part, said: "This is excellent news. The Tournament Golf course has a great reputation for encouraging students to reach the top of their game. Noel's achievement is evidence of this and I congratulate him on his win."
For further information and advice on the Golf courses available at Duchy College please contact the College on 01579 372233.
All undergraduate courses at Duchy College are approved by the University of Plymouth.
