The UCC Staff Golf Society pictured with the Inter-Varsity trophy.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

The UCC Staff Golf Society recently won the Inter-Varsity tournament, beating near neighbours Cork Institute of Technology in a tight battle.  The competition took place in Ballykisteen Golf Club in Tipperary and ten colleges took part.  The fourball format see’s four cards counting from the five pairs, however there was a tie between UCC and CIT when the best four cards had both teams level.  The tournament was decided on the fifth card and UCC took the title by one shot.  The winning team was led by Captain Rosemary O’Connor and managed by Willie Weir.  Rosemary O’Connor and Alan Dobson carded the leading score with 46 points, with Maurice Conway and Kevin Barrett close behind with 43.  Eddic McCarthy and Dan Walsh added 43 points to the team total and Mark Rea and Richard Studdert also had 43 points.  The all-important fifth card came in from Don Walshe and Barrie Curley, their 37 points was decisive as it beat the CIT fifth card and gave UCC the title.  The team were sponsored by Terry Brennan from Collegegear who supplied clothing for the tournament.  The competition was formed from an original match between UCC and Cork RTC which started in 1987.  After a few years other colleges were invited to play and now there are ten colleges who compete annually for the national title.  The last time that UCC won the trophy was 2010 when they finished first in Woodbrook, Co Wicklow.  The society boasts around 80 members and this year they have nine events on the schedule.  Rosemary O’Connor’s Captain’s Prize is their next event and that takes place in Monkstown GC.

The UCC Staff Golf Society pictured with the Inter-Varsity trophy. Included are (front row) Eddie McCarthy, Rosemary O’Connor (Captain), Michael Murphy (President UCC), Terry Brenan (Collegegear, sponsor), Mark Rea and (back row) Barry Curley, Willie Weir, Richard Studdart, Kieran Barrett, Dan Walsh, Maurice Conway, Alan Dobson.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

The weather may have dominated the weekend but a number of clubs ran their Captain’s Prize.  East Cork was one of the club’s and Michael John Roche’s Captains Prize ran over four days.  The event followed its usual; format with all golfers scoring 70 or better taking part in a second round on Sunday afternoon.  Gerry Kelly shot two consecutive 66’s to win by a single stroke.  Pat Horgan shot a first 65 but a second round 68 saw him finish one a shot behind the winner.  Paul O’Donoghue had the lowest first round score with a 61 but a second round 73 saw him finish on 134 and in third place.  Chris O’Shea took the best gross prize with 145.  Derek Cahill, James McCarthy, Michael Ho and Steven O’Brien were all in the top ten.  There were nearly 30 prizes in all for the very popular competition.

After a break last weekend the inter-club competitions are back with the Irish Mixed Foursomes first round matches taking place at Douglas and Skibbereen.  Muskerry face Macroom and Bantry play Dunmore in Skibb on Sunday, while there are three matches taking place in Douglas on Saturday: Mahon v Fermoy, Cork v Fernhill, Douglas v East Cork.