June 21, 2009

Farmingdale, N.Y. - Former Charlotte 49ers standout Trevor Murphy shot a seven-over par 77 in the third round of the US Open at Bethpage Black to fall out of contention in his first major championship.

Murphy, who made the cut thanks, in part, to consecutive birdies on the 16th, 17th and 18th holes in round two managed just one birdie in round three. He started the round with bogeys on four of the first five rounds and added a double-bogey on the difficult 15th hole.

The round of 77 dropped Murphy from a tie for 16th to a tie for 42nd entering the final round, which got underway Sunday night.

Murphy, who helped Charlotte to back-to-back top 10 NCAA finishes in 2007 and 2008, has been playing on the Gateway Tour in Arizona. He competed in the PGA Wachovia Championship as an amateur in 2008, but missed the cut by two strokes.

He made the cut in this, his first US Open, but has struggled since that memorable string of birdies to close out round two.