Month: July 2017

O’Leary Runner Up in Irish Seniors Close, Malone Golf Club

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com
2017 Irish Seniors Amateur Close Championship at Malone Golf Clu

Hugh O’Leary (Castlemartyr) driving at the 18th tee in the final round of the Irish Seniors Amateur Close Championship at Malone Golf Club today. Picture by Pat Cashman

Hugh O’Leary from Castlemartyr captured second place in the Irish Seniors Close at Malone today. O’Leary started the final around just one shot behind Jim Carvill and while he couldn’t catch the leader he did hold on to second place.  Similar to yesterday, O’Leary struggled on Malone’s front nine and turned on +4.  And just like yesterday he broke par on the back nine with birdies is at the 16th and 17th.  That saw him finish one shot ahead of third placed Desmond Shearer.  Karl Bornemann continued his steady scoring for a third day, he signed for a 74 which saw him retain his sixth place position.

Cork’s Fergal Deasy made his senior’s debut this week and he continued his recent form to claim a top ten finish.  Deasy was one of only two players to break par today.  He was level par after the front nine after three birdies, three Continue reading →

Sara leads the way in Douglas

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Munster Senior Championship_Sara Byrne

Sixteen-year-old Sara Byrne is set to represent Ireland again later this month.  The Douglas golfer has been selected to represent Ireland at the European Young Masters later this month.  Oslo Golf Club in Norway will host the event over three days and Byrne along with Annabel Wilson were selected as Ireland’s two representatives by the ILGU.  Byrne has enjoyed a great season so far, and representing GB&I and Ireland in addition to several impressive individual performances.  On the representative front, Byrne was in Italy last week as the GB&I side took on Europe in the Junior Vagliano Trophy.  She also represented Ireland in the annual matches against Wales.  A large number of notable individual performances has seen her handicap drop from four to one over the first half of the season.  She hit the 1 mark in April while playing in the Munster Senior Open in Cork Golf Club.  That was an impressive result considering that the Douglas member opened with a disappointing 80.  She followed that with rounds of 75 and 73 to take second place overall.  She also captured the Munster Girls trophy as the best under eighteen golfer in the field.

In May she travelled to the Fairhaven Trophy in Lancashire where she finished in third place in the girls competition against an impressive international field.  She also recorded top three placings in the Lahinch and Carlow scratch cups in the early part of the season.  Most recently she had a top ten finish in the Irish Women’s Close.  Last week Sara represented Continue reading →

O’Leary one off the lead in Malone, Irish Seniors Close

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

GUI LogoCastlemartyr’s Hugh O’Leary is just one off the lead going into the final round of the Irish Seniors Close.  O’Leary was in the top ten after the first round and a one under par 71 today saw him rise to second place, just one shot behind Banbridge’s Jim Carvill.  O’Leary had a spectacular back nine.  After three bogies on the front nine and another on the 10th, he bounced back with five birdies in seven holes to sign for a 70.  O’Leary and Carvill were the only players to break par in the second round.

Douglas Captain Karl Bornemann proved the duties of high office needn’t interfere with your golf as he continued his recent good form.  Bornemann is tied for 7th after a tidy 74 today.  Michael Quirke (Doneraile) is just inside the top 20 on Continue reading →

Munster win against Connacht, Senior Interprovincials

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com
2017 Interprovincial Matches at Carlow Golf Club

Peter Sinclair (President, GUI) presenting Seamus McParland (Team Captain) with the 2017 Interprovincial trophy after Leinster victory at Carlow Golf Club today (05/07/2017). Also in the picture in front (from left) John Cullen (Team Manager), Moling Lennon (Captain, Carlow Golf Club) and John Ferriter (Chairman, Leinster Golf, GUI). Team members at back (from left) Caolan Rafferty, Jake Whelan, Eugene Smith, Jonathan Yates, Mark Power, Alan Lowry, Conor Purcell and Daniel Holland. Picture by Pat Cashman

Munster had a very strong closing performance in the final day of the Senior Interprovincials.  They won both sessions to claim a win against Connacht which gave some satisfaction after two tough days.  Foursomes wins from O’Keeffe and McCormack meant that the pair were unbeaten in three matches.  Gary O’Flaherty and Geoff Lenehan picked up their second win as a pair and Jack Pierse and John Murphy secured a half to win the session.  Afternoon wins from O’Keeffe, Lenehan, Griffin, Pierse and O’Flaherty secured the win for Munster.  Unfortunately Munster could only finish 3rd, losing a spot on the countback to Ulster.  The third place probably didn’t reflect how close Munster came to a win.  They were within one match of halving with Leinster and Ulster battled back to claim a half on Tuesday.  Leinster completed their first hat-trick since 1964 by winning a third successive Interprovincial Championship at Carlow.

Not since that great side of the ’60s won four on the trot from ’62 to ’65 have Leinster managed such a streak. And with three wins on the board, this was a thumping success.

Following wins against Munster and Connacht, Leinster only needed to halve with Ulster in order to retain the title but they made certain anyway, victorious for the third day running.  Dominant Continue reading →

Munster set for Interpro’s, Day 1 at Carlow Golf Club

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com
Phil Cooney, Captain of the Munster Senior Interprovincial Team

Phil Cooney

Munster Captain Phil Cooney has named his pairings for this mornings foursomes match which tee’s off in Carlow at 8am.  Peter O’Keeffe and Andrew McCormack lead out the Munster side which will face Leinster.  The seven golfers to contest the singles will be announced later this morning with the singles scheduled to get underway at 1pm.

Cooney is looking for his third interprovincial title and has a strong team in place to challenge.

Munster v Leinster (Foursomes)

Peter O’Keeffe & Andrew McCormack
v
Jonathan Yates & Mark Power

John Murphy & James Sugrue
v
Caolan Rafferty & Eugene Smith

Geoff Lenehan & Jack Pierse
v
Conor Purcell & Jake Whelan

Gary O’Flaherty & Eanna Griffin
v
Daniel Holland & Alan Lowry