Murphy takes his star turn in the U.S. Open

The U.S. Open always finds an unlikely star.

Saturday afternoon, former Charlotte 49ers golfer Trevor Murphy became that star.

It looked as if where Murphy finished might determine where the 36-hole cut score fell. Then he birdied the 16th, 17th and 18th holes -- with Johnny Miller providing the commentary -- and he had brightened up a gray Saturday afternoon.

Murphy's second-round 69 left him at even-par through two rounds and tied for 16th place, three strokes ahead of Tiger Woods.

Murphy wasn't aware of the television time he'd received but he was riding a high while waiting for his third round to begin.

"I'm still kinda taking it all in," Murphy said.

After graduating from Charlotte in 2008, Murphy considered staying in the area but decided to live in Scottsdale, Az., where he plays the Gateway Tour, a developmental circuit.

"It was a tough decision," Murphy said.

On Saturday afternoon, though, Bethpage Black felt like home.