Month: March 2019

Deasy tops West of Ireland Qualifier

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Munster Boys Under 16 Amateur Open 2018Newcastlewest Golf Club Thursday 21st August 2018

Mel Deasy

Mel Deasy launched his season in style today – with a three under par 68 to win the qualifier at the West of Ireland.  Mel, who is just 16, was in a field of 90 golfers hoping to claim one of the nine spots in the championship proper.  The Lee Valley golfer was off early this morning and made the most of the round.  Despite two birdies on his front nine, a double meant he turned on level par.  He came back in three under though with birdies on the 12th, 14th and 15th holes.  He was the only golfer to break par and finished three shots ahead of the field.  It was a 1-2 for Cork golfers, Cork’s Kieran Murphy finished as runner up on level par.  Murphy was a bit unfortunate, he was two under through 16 before he had a double on the 17th.  Still, he was safely through to Continue reading →

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O’Keeffe wins Investec Muskerry SSC

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Investec Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup Muskerry Golf Club Saturday 30th March 2019

Peter O’Keeffe in action in the Investec Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup today. Pic: Niall O’Shea

13 years after his first win, Peter O’Keeffe added a second Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup title to his growing haul of wins.  The Irish International led from the start, a five under par 66 this morning saw him set the tone and take a one shot lead into the second round.  A birdie on the second hole was struck out by a bogey on the 6th, but that would be his only mistake.  The Douglas golfer bounced back with an eagle on the next hole and a birdie on the 8th saw him turn on -3.  Two more birdies on the back nine gave him a one shot lead over James Sugrue.

Both Irish Internationals were level after the opening hole in the second round, but O’Keeffe kicked on with a birdie on the second and never looked back.  Sugrue bagged several birdies but balanced that with a handful of bogies that prevented him from catching his playing partner.  Cathal Butler continued his positive form with rounds of 69 & 70.  That was good enough for third place and valuable points on the Munster Order of Merit.  O’Keeffe also takes the lead in the Munster Order of Merit as a result of today’s win.

Gallery: Investec Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup 2019

Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup Presentation_1

Peter O’Keeffe (Douglas) receiving the Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup from Michael O’Connor (Investec). Also included are Marian Nugent (President) and Diarmuid Linehan (Captain), Muskerrry Golf Club.
Picture: Joe Lane

The story of the afternoon belonged to Kinsale’s Shane Kenneally.  He produced a best of the day round of 64 (-7).  Four birdies on the front nine, an eagle two on the 11th hole, and a birdie on the 18th saw him recover from an opening 77 to take 4th place overall.  Cork’s Gary O’Flaherty was 5th (141, -1) in his first competitive event of the season.  The nett prize went to Muskerry’s Zak Collins, a second round 70 saw him finish on -5 (nett).

Muskerry was in great condition for the showpiece event, the ground was a bit on the soft side but overall the course was great with the greens rolling nicely.  This marks the start of a busy few weeks for Cork’s top golfers.  While some will be heading for Co Sligo next week, both East Cork (Sat) and Fota Island (Sun) are holding Senior Scratch Cups.  The qualifiers for the Ford Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy also take place on Friday and Saturday next with times still available on both days.

Investec Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup 2019

136 Peter O’Keeffe (Douglas) 66 70
138 James Sugrue (Mallow) 67, 71
139 Cathal Butler (Kinsale) 69, 70
141 Shane Kenneally (Kinsale) 77, 64; Gary O’Flaherty (Cork) 72, 69; Jack Egan (Muskerry) 71,70
142 Sean Leonard (Mitchelstown) 71,71; Ian Bermingham (Douglas) 68,74
144 Andrew McCormack (Castletroy) 73,71; Philip Spratt (West Waterford) 71,73; David Fitzgerald (Tralee) 71,73; Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little) 70,74
145 Zak Collins (Muskerry) 75, 70; Fionn Hickey (Muskerry) 74,71; Noel McGee (Fota Island) 73,72;  Rory Fives (Faithlegg) 73,72; Paul Tobin (Douglas) 72,73
146 Ian Spillane (Killarney) 75,71; Rory Milne (Faithlegg) 71,75
147 Alan Moriarty (Macroom) 74, 73
CSS Round 1:71
CSS Round 2:71

Four Cork Golfers head for Sligo

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Munster Boys Under 16 Amateur Open 2018Newcastlewest Golf Club Thursday 21st August 2018

Mel Deasy

The West of Ireland qualifier takes place on Sunday and four Cork golfers will be heading for Co Sligo with the hope of making the tournament proper.  Mel Deasy, now wearing Lee Valley colours will be hoping to make his first senior championship start while Kieran Murphy from Cork Golf Club will also challenge for one of the ten championship spots.  Kinsale have two representatives in the qualifier, Mark Healy and Eric Rumley.  They will be hoping to join the three Kinsale members already in the Championship field; Cathal Butler, Gary Ward and Keith Fitzpatrick.

West of Ireland Qualifier Tee Times

This week marks the start of a busy few weeks for Cork’s top golfers with six already confirmed for the West of Ireland.  Peter O’Keeffe (+3.7) and James Sugrue (+3.6) are both in the top ten of entries, the Irish squad members had some very impressive performances at national and international level in 2018 and both will be hoping to add another championship to their resume at the first opportunity this year.  Kinsale trio Cathal Butler, Gary Ward and Keith Fitzpatrick will be joined by Sean Desmond (Monkstown), Greg O’Mahony (Fota Island) and Padraig O’Connor (Macroom).  This year the event has a different format, the traditional 36/64 has been replaced by a 72 hole strokeplay event.  The reason behind the change is that Co Sligo is also hosting the Flogas Irish Amateur Open this year.  It’s the first time in 96 years that the event will not be run as a match play competition with a new date also adding to the changes.  With the Irish Open taking place in Mid May, the decision made to move the West from the traditional Easter date.  For anyone not heading to Sligo, the East Cork SSC takes place on Saturday 6th April.

Saturday Showdown in Muskerry

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Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup Launch 2019

Muskerry Captain Diarmuid Linehan pictured with the holder Fionn Hickey and Michael O’Connor from Investec at the launch of the Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup.

Excitement is building for the first major golf competition for 2019, the Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup on Saturday.  With new sponsors Investec on board, the club put renewed effort into the famous event.  They reaped the rewards with a strong field of entries which includes two Irish internationals and several Munster interprovincial players.  Peter O’Keeffe and James Sugrue lead the field in terms of handicaps, both golfers are past winners, Sugrue won in 2016 while O’Keeffe’s win came ten years earlier in 2006 will be looking to add to his growing haul of titles.  Both golfers have been busy in the off-season.  Sugrue was at the Irish training camp in South Africa which incorporated two top level international events, while O’Keeffe made an appearance at an Alps tour event and has been focused on practice in the recent weeks.

Draw: Investec Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup

Munster golfers Gary O’Flaherty, Cathal Butler and Andrew McCormack were among the early entries and there is currently a standby list in place as over 80 golfers have entered the event.  The original limit of 66 players has been moved to Continue reading →

Busy start to the season for Lee Valley

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Dell EMC Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup, Lee Valley Golf Club, Saturday 22nd April 2017

Gary O’Flaherty who will be aiming for three in a row at Lee Valley next month

A major new open competition, big plans for the senior scratch cup, and a new indoor practice room all add up to a busy few months for the Lee Valley committee.  With the golf season now ready to get into top gear, the next few months will be busy in the Ovens club.  “April will be a busy month with Boyle Sports kindly sponsoring two large competitions for us” explained Club Captain Chris O’Sullivan.  “First on April the 13th we have the Boyle Sports Open Four ball with prizes including a VIP trip to the Irish Grand National, this is followed two weeks later by our Boyle Sports Senior Scratch Cup.  This has become a firm fixture for the top amateurs all over the country with world ranking amateur points on offer to competitors.  We are delighted to have Boyle Sports sponsorship and support.  They took over sponsorship last year and have supported our club further this year with their sponsorship again.  Without which, we would struggle to host the competition to the standard that we now have it under the stewardship of Vincent Drinan who continues to look after this event.  It is a tournament that has had winners including Shane Lowry. However, the Continue reading →

Bank Holiday Opens to Kick Start Season

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Liam Burns

Liam Burns from Youghal reports that the course is in great condition

St Patrick’s weekend always marks the start of the golfing season, and this weekend a large number of Cork clubs are kicking off their season with the start of the open competitions.  Youghal is one of those clubs, they are holding a three person champagne scramble over Saturday, Sunday and Monday.  Youghal kept all 18 holes open through the winter but with members playing 14 or 15 hole competitions it meant that several holes were rested allowing for winter maintenance.  A sanding programme was completed over the winter and the greens have been running true and quick over the past few weeks.  The club recently concluded their spring league which ran over four weeks, and open and counting competitions will return for members and guests.  The entry fee this weekend is just €20 and bookings can be made through Liam Burns in the Pro Shop on 024 92590.

Fermoy have brought a nice twist to their champagne scramble on Monday, the winning team will receive magnums of champagne.  And with an entry fee of just €15 per person it offers some great value on the bank holiday.  On Saturday Fermoy have an open singles competition for €20, and on Sunday you can play in the open two ball scramble for €20, and that includes a meal.  Bookings can be made by calling the club on 025 31472.  Fota Island have open events running over four days.  From tomorrow through to Sunday you can experience the tour quality course and the famous clubhouse burger for €55 per person.  On Monday there’s an open singles on the Deerpark Continue reading →

Alex set for Sawgrass

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Alex Newehham Mar 2019

Alex Newenham

Alex Newenham from Douglas has landed one of the biggest “busman’s holidays” in golf, as he has been selected to work as part of the course team for The Players Championship at Sawgrass in Florida next week.  While many golfers would love the chance to attend a tour event, Alex will get an inside the ropes experience at the event that’s known as the fifth major.  John Deere, the machinery providers in Sawgrass have worked with the greenkeeping bodies in England and Ireland (GCSAI) to give seven greenkeepers an opportunity to work at the showpiece tour event.  Alex, who has worked in Douglas Golf Club for the past 14 years, was selected following an application and interview process completed late last year.  His reward is a 13 day trip to Florida, taking in eight days at the Players.  “This is the sixth year of this partnership and is open to all members of the GCSAI to apply” explained Alex.  “I applied last October and was fortunate enough to be shortlisted along with three others for interview in November.  I was so delighted later on that day to receive word that I had in fact been chosen to represent the GCSAI this year in Sawgrass.”  Alex is one Continue reading →

Sugrue in 5th place entering final day at SA Strokeplay

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Munster Strokeplay Championship Cork Golf Club Sunday 6th May 2018It was another solid performance from Mallow’s James Sugrue yesterday as he carded a one under par 71 at the third round of the South African Strokeplay Championship.  After earlier rounds of -5 and -3, yesterday’s one under was more modest, but he maintained his position on the leaderboard.  Two bogies and three birdies meant that Sugrue finished on -1 and an aggregate of -9 for his 54 holes.

Sugrue is now seven shots off the lead, meaning a win is probably out of reach, but a top ten finish will add to Sugrue’s very positive start to the season and it will have a positive impact on his WAGR ranking.  He’s also the best of the strong Continue reading →