Irish Seniors take top qualifying spot at European Championships

69442768_934162053596576_572304216098340864_nKarl Bornemann and John O’Brien both finished in the top twenty in Denmark today, helping Ireland to finish in pole position at the European Seniors Team Championship.  The 36 hole strokeplay qualifier took place at Rungsted GC, with the Cork duo playing well to help Ireland to qualify safely in the top flight.

Bornemann posted a level par 72 today to finish on +4 while O’Brien added a 73 to his opening 73 to close on +3.  Bornemann will now partner Jim Carvill in Ireland’s opening match against Germany while O’Brien has been selected for singles duty.  Ireland as top seeds take on 8th placed Germany in the quarter-finals, with the winners going on to Friday’s semi-final.  Ireland last won the European Championship in 2017 when Bornemann made his debut and the team was captained by Sean O’Leary.

 

Monkstown & East Cork taste success

monkstown team 2019 Intermediate Cup

The Monkstown Golf Club team who won the intermediate cup in the AIG ILGU Cups and Shields Munster finals at the Lee Valley Golf Club & Country Club, Ovens, Co Cork. Included are Hilary Harte, team manager and Carol Murphy, captain of the ladies club with team members Sue McGuire, Fabienne Moloney, Grace Coakley, Liz Whitaker, Marian Reidy, Mary Egan and Martina McCarthy.   Picture Pat Cashman

Monkstown tasted success at the ILGU District finals in Lee Valley last Sunday, winning the Munster Final of the Intermediate Cup.  Mary Egan led the charge from the front winning her match 3&2, while Liz Whitaker and Fabienne Moloney added the required wins.  Grace Coakley and Sue McGuire were the other team members.  In the Challenge Cup final East Cork got the better of Kinsale in an All-Cork derby.  Nora Kelleher and Orla Evans won the first two matches, beating Lucy Carter and Sarah Galvin respectively.  Naomi McCarthy got a point for Kinsale when she beat Geraldine Coughlan but the win was sealed for East Cork when Aileen O’Sullivan beat Ann O’Mahony on the 16th.  Deirdre O’Doherty and Kay Galvin halved their match after they were called in.  East Cork and Monkstown will now go on to the All Ireland finals in Knightsbrook later this month.  Monkstown’s Cashman Trophy team were also in action in a Munster Final on Sunday.  They took on Limerick in Mitchelstown and unfortunately for the Cork side, they came out on the wrong side of the result.  While Monkstown put an early point on the board when Maurice McGrath and Roy Dennehy won, that was about as good as it got for the Cork club.  Limerick brought in the first match thanks to Eamonn Grimes and Pat Lee, with Gavin Cross and Gerard Gleeson also winning.  Hugh Colon and John O’Brien won the fourth match giving Limerick the important third point, and the title.

Gallery: Limerick v Monkstown, Michael Cashman Trophy Munster Final 2019

Bornemann & O’Brien in European Action

Bornemann O'Brien Denmark SeniorsKarl Bornemann and John O’Brien are both in action today at the European Senior Mens Team Championships in Denmark.  Ireland are among the ten teams in action, hoping to make the top eight after the opening strokeplay qualifier.  John O’Brien is appearing in Irish colours and he was delighted to get the call a few weeks ago.  He’ll tee it up at 8am this morning alongside England’s Paul Wharton and Italy’s Filippo Cleaici.  Bornemann makes a return to the team after playing in Sweden in 2017.  He’s off later on today at 12.50.  The 36 hole strokeplay takes place today and tomorrow, with the matchplay phase beginning on Thursday.  Hopes are high that Ireland will regain the title they last won in 2017.  The competition takes place in Rungsted Golf Club in north east Denmark.

European Senior Men’s Team Championship (Rungsted GC, Denmark; 3-7 September) — Ireland: 
Karl Bornemann (Douglas)
Jim Carvill (Banbridge)
Alan Condren (Greystones)
Steve Graham (East Sussex National)
John O’Brien (Castlemartyr)
Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion)

Captain: Michael Coote (Tralee)
Manager: Matt Donohue (Portumna)