While many golfers will be familiar with lessons, or fitness, or mental preparation, it not usual to see all three elements coming together. That’s what’s happening with the “One for the Ladies” day which sees all three covered in an exciting day of tuition and play. The idea came to life when Trish Daly saw a gap in the market. Daly is a Cork native who spent the past 30 years in Australia, and retuned to Ireland in 2018 and started her Yoga for Golfers programme at Cork Golf Centre in Inniscarra. Soon after Trish met up with PGA Advanced Professional Sarah Claridge and sports psychologist Deirdre Gallagher who both work out of Cork Golf Centre. While Trish was only up and running with her individual and group yoga for golf classes, she spotted a gap in the market for ladies wishing to improve their golf. After a good deal of planning the trio set about holding their first event in Skibbereen back in March. “While there is a lot of energy put into attracting women into the sport of golf with the very successful “get into golf programme” we found that Continue reading
Month: May 2019
Murphy ready for Summer Challenge
It’s almost twelve months on from where it all kicked off. The St Andrew’s Links Trophy 2018 was when John Murphy had his first major win, and the Kinsale man has kicked on with a great season with University of Louisville in NCAA Division One college. Today he kicks on with his first appearance at the Brabazon Trophy, the English Strokeplay championship. From there it’s onto St Andrew’s to defend his Links trophy, and from there it will be a mixture of Irish, English and European events as the seasons builds towards August. Murphy has the added benefit of being named in the extended Walker Cup panel, and although he missed out on a few early season events in England, he’s now on the right side of the Atlantic for the selectors to see what he can do. Twelve months ago it’s was a sudden death play-off that decided the winner of the St Andrews Links. Given Murphy’s experience in matchplay situations going back to when he was under 15 it was no Continue reading
Second win for Sugrue in Castletroy
Walker Cup hopeful James Sugrue is back on the winning trail after romping home in the Castletroy Scratch on Saturday. The Mallow man was named on the Walker Cup training panel earlier this month and his golf continues to do the talking as he finished five strokes clear of a strong field at the end of the 36 hole event. Rounds of 68 ad 71 (-5) saw him clear the field, and with just one bogey in each of the rounds he played some very tidy golf. Second place went to Pat Murray on level par with Harry Duggan (Kilkenny) finishing in third place on +1. Jack Ryan was the best of the home golfers, he took fourth, and it was a special day for Athenry’s Peader O’Beirne. Peader too second nett but also had a hole in one in the competition. It was a welcome win for Sugrue who was laid low with an injury just six weeks ago. The Irish International has been playing well all season. A top 15 finish in Lytham, and a top 20 in the Irish Amateur came after Sugrue had to pull out of the Euro Nations with a rib injury. His performance at the weekend now sends a signal that he’s a contender for a second major to the South title he won in 2017. Sugrue is headed for Leeds this week for the Brabazon Trophy, where the Walker Cup selectors will no doubt be watching the members of their extended training panel.
Howard runner up in Irish Club Professional at Dromoland
Jack Howard finished runner-up in the Irish Club Professional Tournament in Dromoland last week, losing out to Damien McGrane after a play-off. Howard, representing Fota Island shot a four under par 68 to lead the tournament. That included important birdies on the 17th and 18th to get into a tie for the lead. It was in impressive round from Howard in a strong field, and it included seven birdies. At the end of the round the two leaders were tied on -4, and unlike other PGA events it was on the a play-off. After halving the first play-off hole, McGrane put the pressure on by hitting the green on the short par four 10th. When Howard missed his 12 foot birdie attempt the former European Tour winner tapped in or birdie to claim the title.
Davey Barry and Shane Irwin were the next bet placed Cork golfers, they both carded one par rounds of 73 to get a top ten place, while Cian McNamara and David Ryan were three back in a share for 24th place.
While Jack will be disappointed at missing out on the win, there are several positives. As well as the prize money for second place, the high placed finish means that the 22 year old will now be able to enter several of the high profile events as the Irish Continue reading
Fred Perry Trophy Results & R3 Fixtures
Round 1 Results
Douglas bt Cobh 3.5/1.5
Raffeen Creek bt Mahon 3/2
East Cork bt Fermoy 4/1
Skibbereen bt Glengarriff 3.5/1.5
Blarney w/o Clonakilty (w/d)
Muskerry bt Mallow 4/1
Round 2 Results
Douglas w/o Castlemartyr (w/d)
Raffeen Creek w/o Cork (w/d)
Monkstown bt Lee Valley 4/1
East Cork bt Fota Island 3/2
Skibbereen bt Kinsale 3/2
Dunmore bt Blarney 4/1
Bandon bt Bantry Bay 3/2
Macroom bt Muskerry 3.5/1.5
Round 3 Fixtures:
East Cork -v- Bandon
Raffeen Creek -v- Douglas
Dunmore -v- Skibbereen
onkstown -v- Macroom
Muskerry Cork Fourball
The second Cork Fourball Championship event takes place in Muskerry on Wednesday and interest is building following the successful first event earlier this month. The series runs over six qualifying dates with the top three pairs from each qualifier advance to the series final which takes place at the end of September. From that event, the lucky winners will head off on a golf trip to Portugal. The winners of the first qualifier were Paul O’Keeffe and Brian O’Keeffe from the home club. They scored 45 points to win in a competitive field. The other two pairs to qualify were Derek Kelly (Lismore) & Martin O’Driscoll (West Waterford) and Owen Barrett and Tony Hayes (Muskerry). Ryan’s Marketing Manager Jerry Manley was Continue reading
Douglas win for Greg
It’s a competition that tends to throw up a few first-time winners, and today the Douglas Scratch Cup did exactly that. Greg O’Mahony from Fota Island took the honours, shooting impressive rounds of 68 & 75 to with the Kieran Canty Financial Services Douglas Senior Scratch Cup. O’Mahony’s opened with a four under par 68. After a steady opening nine, the Fota man came back in five under, including and eagle-birdie finish, to take the 18 hole lead. That was one ahead of Peter O’Keeffe and two ahead of Shane Galvin. Crucially there were 11 players within four shots of O’Mahony, and it’s rare enough in Douglas for the leader at halfway Continue reading
Gallery: Douglas Senior Scratch Cup, sponsored by Kieran Canty Financial Services
Pictures from Douglas: Continue reading
Gallery: Munster Mid Amateur 2019, Gold Coast Golf Club
Pictures from Round 2: Continue reading
Carroll helps Bandon to Bruen Finals
John Carroll
Bandon have booked their place in the Munster finals of the AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield after an exciting area final against Mahon in Lee Valley. A fabulous evening in Ovens provided the backdrop to a very competitive match, Mahon got the better of the early holes but Bandon fought back and the match was finely balanced when the five pairs moved onto the back nine. Bandon’s John Carroll showed all of his experience when he closed out his match with a four and three win alongside partner Roger Pearson. Bandon also won the second match when Mike O’Neill and Kevin Brophy won on the 17th green. The next three matches were much tighter though, and at one point it looked as if Mahon would have a real chance. The third match was all square through 17 and it looked as if Bandon could steal a victory when Mahon left their third shot in the greenside bunker. However a great up and down from David Brohan and Gavin Stack gave Mahon a gritty five, matching Bandon’s bogey. The match headed for the 19th, and onto the 20th when the first hole was halved in fours.
Gallery: Bandon v Mahon, Jimmy Bruen Shield Area Final
Meanwhile, Bandon’s Derek O’Driscoll and David Kelly were one up on the 18th. The pair were on the green in two and after a great first putt they were inches away from a par. Mahon were in the bunker in two and although they got out, their par attempt came up short. At that stage Mahon’s Anthony Deasy and Johnny Barrett decided to concede the Bandon par putt. The sporting gesture meant that Bandon won their third point and advanced to the Munster finals. For the record, Mahon’s Timothy O’Mahony & Gavin Carroll won the final match, and the third match was called in on the 20th.
AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield – South Munster Area Final (Lee Valley Golf Club)
Bandon 3.5-1.5 Mahon
John Carroll & Roger Pearson beat Denis Kavanagh & Seamus O’Leary 4&3
Mike O’Neill & Kevin Brophy beat James Daly & Kevin O’Regan 2&1
Mike O’Dell & Brian O’Donoghue halved with David Brohan & Gavin Stack (20th)
Derek O’Driscoll & David Kelly Anthony Deasy & Johnny Barrett 1 up
Leo Hassett & Sean O’Donoghue lost to Timothy O’Mahony & Gavin Carroll 2&1
Cork Golf News 