Darragh Murphy leads Muskerry Qualifiers

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Muskerry Golf Club
Picture: Niall O’Shea

The qualifier for the Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy took place recently with well over 200 players hoping to claim a top 64 spot and entry into the match play stage. The qualifier was held over two days, with Darragh Murphy shooting a very impressive 69 to top the qualifiers. Murphy was the only golfer to break par; he played on the Saturday and had three shots to spare over the nearest challenger.

Olan Buckley, Clem Leonard, Colin Sheehan and David Kelly all returned scores of 72, with Luke Merriman and Phelim Cotter finishing with 73. Thirty-seven golfers qualified from the second day of play, with five golfers scoring 78 to make the match Continue reading →

Howard and Doyle to lead Irish Brabazon Challenge

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David Howard is heading for the Brabazon Trophy next week.
©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

The Fota Island duo of David Howard and John Doyle are part of an eight-strong Golf Ireland squad travelling to take part in the Brabazon Trophy next week.

Howard came with a late run to almost force a play-off as Patrick Keeling took the honours in a thrilling finish at the Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open Championship in Seapoint last Sunday.

Doyle featured in a Junior Ryder Cup and Amgen Irish Open last year and will make the trip Continue reading →

2nd Cork Scratch Cup for Coughlan

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Munster Stroke Play winner Paul Coughlan pictured with Sean Barry from sponsors C2O Group and Dave Prendergast from Golf Ireland.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Paul Coughlan became the 100th name on the famous Cork Scratch Cup after he won the C2O Group Munster Men’s Stroke Play Amateur Open Championship at Cork Golf Club.

The Castleknock golfer produced two impressive rounds of golf on Sunday to overturn a five-shot deficit after Saturday’s two rounds.  The Westmeath native, who also won in 2024 was playing in the penultimate group on Sunday morning and set about his task from the opening hole with a birdie.

“I said go out and make a few early birdies here with the way the course sets up” said Coughlan after his win.  “It was kind of Continue reading →

Doyle wins BoyleSports Lee Valley Scratch Cup in Style

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John Doyle pictured with tournament director Vincent Drinan and Peter Tuite from BoyleSports.  Pic: Niall O’Shea

John Doyle claimed his first win of the season in fine style when he won the Boylesports Scratch Cup by five strokes. The Mitchelstown man was two ahead going into the final round and, while his lead narrowed to one shot early on, his steady approach allowed him to kick on and take control on the back nine.

John started the final round on -10, two ahead of his Fota Island team-mate and first-round leader, David Howard, who was keen to retake the lead. The pair traded pars for the opening few holes, and it looked like Doyle would extend his lead when Howard had to pitch out from the trees on the 7th. Howard bounced back with a great Continue reading →

Stage set for Lee Valley BoyleSports Scratch Cup

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Robbie Walsh will be looking for his 3rd Lee Valley title this weekend.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Interest is building in the Lee Valley Scratch Cup which gets underway in Ovens on Saturday morning.  Similar to the West of Ireland on the national calendar, Lee Valley marks the end of the winter and the start of the competitive scratch cup season.  Tournament Director Vincent Drinan has been busy managing entries for the past few weeks, and when entries closed last week, he was happy with the interest in the event.

“Again this year we are delighted with the level of interest and the entries we have received.  Year after year we have some of the top amateurs in the country returning to play our scratch cup” said Drinan.  “Players like David Continue reading →

C2O Continue Munster Stroke Play Sponsorship

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Pictured at the launch of the Munster Mens Open Stroke Play at Cork Golf Club were Dave Predergast (Chairman Golf Ireland Munster Region), Sean Barry (C2O sponsors), Liam Ormond (Captain), Mary Fitzgerald (Lady Captain) and Peter Loughnane (General Manager). The Championship takes place on 2/3 May.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

C2O group have continued their sponsorship of Cork’s most prestigious amateur golf event, the Munster Stroke Play which takes place in Cork Golf Club next weekend.  C2O supports golf in a number of ways and the company is now in its second year sponsoring the Munster Stroke Play.

Sean Barry, Executive General Manager Europe for C2O said “We’re delighted at C2O Group to be sponsoring such a prestigious event on the Irish men’s golf circuit.  Events like this are hugely important for the game, for the clubs involved, and for the next generation of Irish golfers coming through.”

“Supporting this event is a natural fit for us because golf reflects many of the same qualities we value as a business — commitment, discipline, professionalism and performance. We’re proud to be involved and we Continue reading →

Blarney preparing for Senior Scratch Cup

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Blarney Golf Course
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Blarney Golf Club have announced details of their senior scratch cup, the 36 hole event takes place in late May and the organisers are expecting to draw a high-quality field.  Darren Kelleher and Damien Kelleher are again organising the event and they’re busy getting ready.

“We are looking forward to hosting our third Christy Horgan Senior Scratch Cup on the 23rd of May” said Darren.  “We are delighted with how the first two stagings of the scratch cups have went, the feedback we got after each one was great to hear, and how much everyone enjoyed it and Continue reading →

O’Callaghan recalls McIlroy duel

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Pictured (from L to R) Seamus Power, Shane Lowry, Simon Ward, Rory McIlroy, Aaron O’Callaghan and Gareth Shaw at the European Youths.

Tiger Woods had just become the third golfer in history to go back-to-back in the Masters, when over 6,000 kilometres away a young golfer from Holywood in County Down was about to begin his journey to the top.

Harry Diamond won the Ulster Boys’ title that year, before Rory McIlroy went back-to-back. And then in 2004, the future World No 1 also claimed the Irish Boys’ Amateur Close Championship.

It could have been different that week, at least, where McIlroy was forced to a play-off by Aaron O’Callaghan. Fast forward 24 years and McIlroy was looking to emulate Woods, while O’Callaghan watched on with his East Tennessee State University golfers. Continue reading →

Summer Golf is on the way

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Longer days are on the way
Pic: Niall O’Shea

The slow but steady stretch in the evenings has been welcomed by golfers, as has the lower levels of rainfall.  Although summer golf and firm ground is still not here, there has definitely been a large increase in the numbers of golfers getting out for a few holes.  2025 was a good year for Cork golf, and it might be hard to top some of those successes this year.  There were national inter-club titles for Douglas, Monkstown and Lee Valley and on the individual front David Howard captured a championship win in Co Louth and John Doyle won the Irish Boys in Cork Golf Club.

There was success on the tour front also as Sara Byrne retained her LET tour card after an impressive rookie season, and James Sugrue won a Continue reading →