Month: July 2019

O’Keeffe keeps up momentum in Lahinch

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Gameface; Peter O'Keeffe in action in the South of Ireland in Lahinch last year

Gameface; Peter O’Keeffe in action in the South of Ireland in Lahinch last year

Following his great performance at the North of Ireland two weeks ago, Peter O’Keeffe kept the championship momentum going with an opening 68 in Lahinch today.  The opening round of the South of Ireland got underway today in benign conditions, and O’Keeffe was the first of the early starters to post a low score.  The Douglas golfer started with a hot hand, birdieing the first two holes.  He gave a shot back on the Klondyke, he got it back on the 9th to turn on three under.

Another birdie followed on the 10th and Peter had eight steady pars before a final birdie on the last.  That put him in the clubhouse lead, although lower scores would follow.  Cathal Butler had shot a 71 (-1), and Sean Desmond would follow with an impressive 67 later in the morning.  Paul Buckley and Greg O’Mahony both shot level par, and Paul Tobin and Gary O’Flaherty finished on 73 to Continue reading →

Carroll Claims Victory in Lahinch

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Senan Carroll being presented with his prize from a beaten but smiling Peter Sheehan

There were incredible scenes in Lahinch on Thursday as Senan Carroll fulfilled a lifelong dream, beating the legendary Peter Sheehan in Lahinch.  The 36 hole shootout was the highlight of the  opening two days of the South of Ireland (for the two players involved).

Carroll, the young gun had a lead of 4 shots going into the second round, thanks in part to a magnificent eagle on the notoriously difficult 2nd hole.   Despite playing distinctly average golf on the second day, Carroll managed to hang on to secure a huge win that will sure mean lots to him – and little to anyone else.

Sheehan, known to many as the King of Lahinch, and celebrating his 40th South of Ireland was heartbroken to lose to his prodigy, but in true Peter Sheehan fashion, he accepted the result with poise, dignity and his trademark smile.

Senan, delighted to received his signed €50 note, dedicated the win to himself and promised to stand everyone in the 19th a drink (terms and conditions apply, valid only on Tuesdays in January 2027).

Often compared to the rivalry between Palmer and Nicholas, there’s no doubt that the enduring deul will continue.

 

Senior Cap for Thompson, Byrne to lead Irish Girls, Home Internationals

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Rachel Thompson

Rachel Thompson

Rachel Thompson is set to earn her first senior Irish cap next month following her selection on the Irish Ladies team for the Home Internationals.  On the back of her win at the Connacht Senior Womens title, the Cork member would have been high on the list of probables, and earlier today her place was confirmed.  A strong team was named as Ireland hope go one better this year and win the event.  Clodagh Coughlan was selected as a non-travelling reserve, the Douglas golfer’s performance at the recent interprovincials brought her onto the national radar.

Sara Byrne was selected as part of the seven strong Girls team.  This will be Byrne’s third year playing in the Home Internationals, a pretty big achievement considering she first played in the Under 18 competition when she was just 15.  Sara is now a senior on the team, but Continue reading →

Cutting finish for Sugrue in Portrush

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The Amateur Championship 2019

James Sugrue

There was huge disappointment for James Sugrue today as he missed the cut in Royal Portrush by a single stroke.  The Amateur Champion was level par going into the second round and in with a great chance of qualifying for the weekend, but a triple bogey on the 14th cost the Mallow man as it put him one outside the cut mark.  Playing alongside Darren Clarke again, Sugrue started brightly with a birdie on the par 3 third hole which got him back into the red on one under.  He dropped a shot on the next par three but a birdie on the 8th had him back to -1 halfway around the course in Portrush.  Sugrue was playing some very steady golf until the 14th.  The most difficult hole on the course lived up to its billing when James found trouble and walked off with a seven.  That pushed him out to +2, one shot outside the projected cut.  Despite trying hard on each of the last four holes, Sugrue couldn’t find a birdie, missing by inches with good putts on the 16th and 18th.  Those near misses proved crucial as the cut mark hovered at +1 for most of the day.  It drifted to +2 in the worst of the wet weather but came back to +1 as the later starters coped well with the conditions.  Sugrue needed six golfers on +1 to drop a shot to advance to the weekend, but the lack of wind definitely helped the later starters, and the cut mark stayed at + Continue reading →

Byrne takes runners-up spot at Irish Girls Close

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Sara Byrne Jul 2019

Sara Byrne, Picture: Pat Cashman

Sara Byrne came up just short of winning her second Irish Championship today, she was runner-up at the Irish Girls Close at Galway Golf Club.  The Douglas golfer was in a fine vein of form, and had made the final day with relative ease.  On Tuesday she shot a second round 71 (-2) to take second place in the strokeplay qualifier.  That meant she was safely through to the matchplay phase.  On Wednesday she wrapped up her first round match on the 14th, and on Thursday she beat Emily Murray and Lucia Masding to book a place in this morning’s semi-final.

Byrne got off to a great start this morning in the semi-final, going three up against Aine Donegan.  But when the finished out on the 18th it was all square.  Donegan’s comback included a birdie on the 17th and a chip in birdie on the last hole, but on the 24th – the sixth tie hole – it was Byrne who had the rub of the green.  An eagle putt estimated at just over 30 feet dropped in to send the Douglas teenager into the final.

Sara faced leading qualifier Beth Coulter in the final and the 15 year old from Kirkistown Castle got off to a flier.  Coulter was four under for the front nine, continuing a great run of golf in Galway.  She was three up after six holes but Byrne birdied the 6th, eagled the 7th and birdied the 8th to Continue reading →