College golf in South Florida continues to be successful with a mixture of local talent and talent from far, far away.

Barry University, ranked No. 2 in the nation in Division II, added some shot-making ability for next season with this week’s announcement that Patrick Murray, of Austria, will join the Bucs for the 2013 season.

Actually, you can take your pick about where Murray is from.

He is the No. 1-ranked junior in Austria and the No. 2 amateur in that country. He played for Austria in the European Boys’ Team Championship in the fall.

However, Murray is also a native of Brazil.

“He’s a great kid and good student,” Barry coach Jimmy Stobs said. “He wants to be a professional golfer. He’s already good and getting better, and I like working with those kind of kids. He’s a hard worker with a burning desire to get better.”

Barry has four foreign players on its 2012 roster in senior Simon Forsslund (Sweden), freshman Eirik Groenhaug (Norway), sophomore Berry Jole (Netherlands) and senior Marcus Segerstrom (Sweden).

U.S. players are freshman Nico Cavero (Doral’s Ronald Reagan High), junior Jared Dalga (Grand Rapids, Mich.), junior Marcelo Huarte (Miami Columbus High), junior Jaime Rodriguez (west Miami Braddock High), junior Scott Smyers (Lakeland High), and sophomore John Yu (Fresh Meadows, N.Y.).

How did Stobs happen upon Murray?

In various ways.

A player on last year’s Barry team, Daniel Stapff, hailed from Brazil and informed Stobs of Murray.

Also, Murray’s sister, Daniela Murray, is a sophomore on the women’s team at Barry and told her brother how she liked attending Barry.

In addition, Stobs studied video of Murray and watched him hit the ball during an official visit to the school. Stobs also studied European scores to see how Murray was doing and received letters from coaches. All that homework paid off with the signing.

So, in the fall, there will be a Murray family reunion at Barry.

At this juncture of the season, during a nearly three-month break in play, Barry and Nova Southeastern are in their usual duel for the top spot in the nation. Nova is ranked No. 1 with Barry right behind.

“It’s going to be a battle as usual,” Stobs said. “And you can throw Lynn [University in Boca Raton] in there also. We’re the three best teams in the country right now.”

Puttering around

Clayton Gamber III, of Doral, played bogey-free golf with five birdies for a 67 at Abacoa Golf Club in Jupiter to earn his fourth victory on the Golfslinger.com Tour.

Gamber edged Ben Silverman, of Palm Beach Gardens, by one stroke. Silverman had six birdies but made two costly bogeys.