Month: August 2016

O’Sullivan and McGrane win at Cork Golf Club

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Cork Pro-Am, Cork Golf Club, Monday 8th August 2016Seniors Tour and European Tour winners Denis O’Sullivan and Damien McGrane were joint winners of the Cork Pro-Am yesterday.

Experienced campaigners Damien McGrane and Denis O’Sullivan mastered the tricky conditions at Cork GC on Monday to share first prize.  Blustery winds and dry fairways put a premium on accuracy and it was McGrane and O’Sullivan who coped best.  The pair carded rounds of one under par 71 to edge out Damien Mooney (Nevada Bob’s Belfast), Philip Walton, Cian McNamara (Monkstown GC), Simon Thornton and Noel Murray (Massereene GC).  McGrane, winner of three PGA in Ireland events in July, birdied the second and third but came unstuck with a double bogey at the par four sixth as he went to the turn in level par 36.

The 45-year-old played some more steady golf on the back nine, racking up eight pars and just the one birdie at the par five 11th.  Local Continue reading →

Butler claims 3rd scratch cup in Killarney

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Munster Strokeplay Championship 2016

Cathal Butler

Kinsale’s Cathal Butler won his third scratch cup of the year when he came from behind to win the Killarney Senior Scratch Cup on Saturday.  The 36 hole competition, played over both courses had a capacity field and report from the players were very positive.  Peter O’Keeffe from Douglas led after the opening round with a 73, two clear of Cathal Butler who was his closest challenger.  O’Keeffe added 72 on Mahony’s Point in his second round, giving him a total of 145.  With the wind picking up and Butler being one of the alter starters the odds were that O’Keeffe would maintain the lead.  As it happened Butler shot a hugely impressive 69 in his second to tie O’Keeffe and win on the countback.

Butler could have been better placed after the first round, he was three over for his final three holes on Killeen.  He made no such mistakes on the run-in in Mahony’s in the afternoon.  He birdied three holes on the front nine and added two more birdies on the 11th and 16th.  He bogies the 3rd and the par five 13th, be he was three under when standing on the 18th tee.  There could have been trouble on the 18th Continue reading →

Doneraile win First Irish Mixed Foursomes Munster Title

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Mixed Foursomes Munster Final

Jim Long Hon Sec Munster Branch GUI presents Sean Collins Doneraile Golf Club team captain winners of the Mixed Foursomes Munster Final, Gold Coast Golf Club. Picture: Golffile 

There was great excitement in Gold Coast GC on Saturday as Doneraile won their first Irish Mixed Foursomes Munster title.  Despite the positive weather forecast, golfers had to contend with heavy rain for much of the day.  In the morning semi-finals, Tramore overcame Mahon and Doneraile had and impressive win over Dromoland Castle.  Both sides stuck with the same pairings for the final and it was a closely matched affair.  Tim O’Mahony and Anne Heffernan put an early point on the board for Doneraile when they won on the 15th.  That was the only match to finish early as the remaining four went the distance – and beyond.  Sean Barrett and Karena Hunter claimed Doneraile’s second point but Keith Ridgard and Maeve Enright won a point for Tramore, both matches finishing on the 18th.  The final two matches needed two additional holes to force a decision.  John O’Brien and Ann Mitchell balanced the score at 2-2 when they beat Doneraile’s Peter Duane and Anna Cotter on the 20th hole.  It all came down to final match between Doneraile’s Eddie Roche and Eileen Coleman and Tramore’s Martin Walsh and Amanda O’Connor.  After finishing the 18 holes level, they went on to half the 19th.  The match was finally settled on the 20th hole with Roche and Coleman won, securing a first ever Irish Mixed Foursomes pennant for the North Cork club.  Team Captain Sean Collins proudly accepted the pennant from Munster Golf’s Jim Long.  Doneraile now advance to the All-Ireland semi-finals with hopes of following 2015 winner Dooks in adding a green pennant to their blue pennant from Munster.

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No Joy for Mallow in Fred Daly Munster Semi-Final

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Fred Daly Trophy Munster Finals, Newcastle West Golf Club, Saturday 6th August 2016Mallow suffered a loss at the hands of a strong Limerick side in Newcastle West yesterday in the Munster semi-final of the Fred Daly Trophy.  The previous evening Mallow had lost a nail biting final in the Irish Junior Foursomes, but they pitched up in Newcastle West on Saturday morning with a strong side ready for battle.  Adam Boland, Liam Dowling, Greg Barrett and Edward Walsh all started for Mallow, with Daniel O’Sullivan taking the anchor spot having played in the Junior Foursomes.

Gallery: Fred Daly Trophy Munster semi-finals at Newcastle West

It was a tight match all the way through, Limerick had a narrow lead at the halfway point and similar to Friday’s play Mallow staged a comeback on the back nine.  Limerick however weren’t to be caught and the 16th and 17th proved crucial as Limerick picked up the three points on these holes.  Ed Walsh won Continue reading →

No Joy for Mallow or Blarney as Castletroy win Irish Junior Foursomes

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Irish Junior Foursomes Munster Final, Newcastlewest Golf Club, Friday 5th August 2016There was no joy for Mallow or Blarney today as both lost out to Castletroy in the Irish Junior Foursomes.  Blarney took Castletroy all the way to the 18th green before losing out to the Limerick side.  Blarney were five down before the turn and narrowed the deficit to 2 holes on the 11th.  Castletroy stretched their lead again through the back nine but Blarney weren’t finished and took the match all they way to the 18th green.  Castletroy just needed a half and Blarney’s delicate chip for birdie got close but didn’t go in meaning Castletroy Continue reading →