Mairead Martin (Kanturk) Picture: Pat Cashman
Mairead Martin is currently on a great run of form, the Kanturk teenager picked up another major championship at the weekend in Dublin. Fresh from her win at the Irish Girls Close last week, Mairead headed to Donabate with hopes of winning the Leinster Womens Championship for a second time. She came through the 36 qualifier in 4th place, just two shots off the lead which was set by Shannon Burke. Martin had a 6&5 win over home favourite Nicole McGavisk in the first round and followed that with a 5&4 win over Castlewarden’s Clodagh Walsh on Saturday afternoon. She had a 2&1 win over Maedbh Doyle in the semi final and despite a slow start in the final she wrapped up a 2&1 win over Rachel McDonnell.
“My game was really solid all week and I holed a lot of good putts” said a happy Mairead after her win. “I felt a bit under pressure in the last matchplay game, especially as I was 3 down through 9, but I managed to bring it back with 2 birdies in a row to gain some momentum, and then I played really well on the home stretch.” This is the second time Mairead will have her name engraved on the trophy having beaten Maria Dunne in the final in Ardee as a youngster in 2015. The busy summer continues for Martin, she’s off to play in the Home Internationals in Little Aston on Friday and after that it’s on to the British Girls in Enville Golf Club near Birmingham.
Today started with five Cork golfers still in contention in Lahinch, however as play came to a close that was reduced to just two. The draw meant that there were two all-Cork clashes this morning, and one more this afternoon. Tomorrow will see another all-Cork match with Peter O’Keeffe taking on James Sugrue.
Weather conditions in Lahinch were slightly better today as the opening two rounds of the matchplay got underway. After two rounds there are still five Cork golfers involved, with two all-Cork clashes set for tomorrow morning.
It isn’t too often that a scratch golfer would have six bogies and a double – and still be happy with his round. Well that’s exactly what happened Sean Desmond in Lahinch today. Playing is his first South of Ireland, the Monsktown teenager shot a 74 in very testing conditions. That 74 included four birdies and an eagle, which helped Desmond to bounce back from the bogies. He was actually one under after an eagle on the 5th and he finished the front nine on level par. That included a lost ball on the 7th which led to a double bogey. A birdie on the 12th saw Desmond back in the red but three consecutive bogies on 13, 14 and 15 saw him return to the black and sign for a two over par 74.
Fancy a trip to the Old Head? Are you playing off 9 or lower? Are you free any of the next four Thursdays? If so a new Lee Valley competition might be of interest. Jack Boyd and Paul Keohane have come up with a new weekly competition in Lee Valley that’s aimed at single figure golfers. Four weekly qualifiers will take place in August, starting on Thursday 3rd August and three golfers will qualify each week for the series final. The top four golfers from the final will book their place for round of golf in the Old Head in September with the winner on the day claiming the inaugural Old Head Cup. The best golfer each day, along with the runner-up and best gross will all qualify for the final, and there will also be daily prizes on offer.
The Boy’s Interprovincial Championships get underway today in Blarney with the U18 and U14 competitions kicking off the three day festival of golf. Mallow trio Edward Walsh, Adam Boland and Greg Barrett lead a strong Cork line up in the Under 18 championship while Bantry’s Mel Deasy and Douglas’ Zak Collins are in action in the Under 14 competition.
A dozen Cork golfers will be hoping to bridge a 13 year gap and win the South of Ireland Championship this week. Mallow’s Meryvn Owens was the last man to bring the famous trophy back to Cork in 2003, when he beat the holder Colm Moriarty on the 18th green in Lahinch. Cork winners have been few and far between, John McHenry won in 1986 and before that there’s a 22 year gap to W A Kelleher’s win. The statistics would suggest that a few more years should pass before the next Cork winner, but given the strength and depth of the Cork golfers competing this year, don’t rule out a good run from a few of the form golfers.
Cork Golf News 