Munster PGA Captain Stephen Hayes presents Cian McNamara (Monkstown) with first prize.
Cian McNamara won on the double today when he won the singles and the pro-am competitions at Dromoland Golf Club. The Monkstown Professional won by one shot from David Ryan and only two golfers managed to break par. Gary Howie took third place with level par and Patrick Sheehy was fourth with a 73. Dan Sugrue, Diarmuid Frazer and David Foley all tied for fifth place
It was McNamara’s first win in the 2016 PGB Winter Series had a steady start but dropped a shot on the long par five 6th. He struck a purple patch around the turn, knocking in four birdies in five holes. McNamara birdied the 9th, 10th, 12th & 13th. Unfortunately he dropped a shot in the 14th but he bagged another birdie on the closing hole.
- McNamara also claimed the honours in the pro-am when he partnered Peter Brazil (Limerick GC) to a winning 44 points. Ian Colleran and amateur partner Brian Lenihan took second place with 42 points.
The next event in the series takes place in Castlemartyr next Monday, the event is a pro-only event.
PGA Winter Series Event #3, sponsored by Golfbuddy
Dromoland Golf Club
1st Cian McNamara 69
2nd David Ryan 70
3rd Gary Howie 72
4th Patrick Sheehy 73
5th Dan Sugrue 74 Diarmuid Fraser 74 David Foley 74
Pro-Am Results
1st Cian McNamara and Peter Brazil 44
2nd Ian Colleran and Brian Lenihan 42
Carrigaline based PGA Professional Wayne O’Callaghan has recently set up a new base in Raffeen Creek Golf Club. The popular instructor has moved from his previous base in Fernhill where he had worked for the past four years. Wayne qualified as a PGA Professional almost twenty years ago having served his apprenticeship under Bandon’s Paddy O’Boyle. From 1998 to 2012 he worked from the busy Carrigdhoun Golf Range and in 2012 he moved to Fernhill Golf Course. Over the past four years Wayne developed a very strong junior programme, which incorporated quite a bit of on-course work which complimented the range and putting green aspect of the programme. Although his time on the PGA Irish Region Tour has been limited due to his teaching commitments, Wayne did feature in the top ten a number of times this year. Having left Fernhill in October, Wayne wasted no time in setting up a new base. “I have now 
The presentation of the Harbour Shield took place recently when Cobh Golf Club hosted a competition for the ten participating clubs. The final took place a few weeks previously and it was contested by Kinsale and Douglas who were both looking for their first title. After a closely fought final it was Douglas who won despite conceding home advantage to Kinsale. It was a long trip to the final for the young Douglas golfers. In the league section they came up against Kinsale, Cork, Blarney and East Cork, winning all of their matches. In the semi-final they beat Mahon to qualify for the final and a rematch against Kinsale.
For the first time in many years there will be a three way election for the post of Chairman of the Munster Branch. The Annual delegates meeting takes place later this month and the election will see two Munster Branch Officers and a former Officer contest the election. There is one nomination for each of the other Officer posts and there are 21 nominees for the 17 places on the Provincial Council.
After the official launch of the ladies club in Castlemartyr earlier this year, the five star resort has launched a very attractive membership offer for the year ahead. The normal membership fee has been slashed to just €599 as the new club makes a play to attract ladies to the club. Castlemartyrs’ PGA Professional Brady Sherwood has worked hard for the past two years to build and develop the ladies side of their membership packages. “There has always been a demand for a ladies club in Castlemartyr Golf Club.” Said Sherwood. “Due to our golf course originally being so busy with green fee players in the opening years, there was never really a clear focus on the ladies membership until now. This inland Links style golf course is easy to walk and not too long or over challenging. It’s also a resort style set up, so it’s always prepared and set up beautifully for enjoyable golf. The feedback we get from lady golfers is extremely positive and they love the fact being sand based you can twelve months of the year in great condition, the majority of the new lady members that have joined Castlemartyr for the simple fact of accessing the seven-day full membership 
Bandon native Brian O’Donovan shot an opening round of 69 to finish in the top 20 at the Clearwater Bay Open in Hong Kong. O’Donovan is competing in his first PGA Tour China event this season and is very well placed in the field of 120 golfers. He’s three shots off the lead on one under par. The Mission Hills senior instructor had two bogies and three birdies on the front nine and he followed that with nine pars on the way back.
Cork Golf News 