While there was little in the way of golf in Cork last weekend, there were a few Cork golfers making waves.  Sara Byrne recorded his first NCAA win last week when she came out on top in the Pat Bradley Invitational in Florida.  Byrne opened with a level par 72, but found herself eight shots off the lead after teammate Barbora Bujakova shot a 64.  It didn’t even look like Byrne might match par after a tough start.  She found herself three over par after just five holes thanks to three bogies in a row from the third hole.  Four birdies would follow to get Byrne into the red but a bogey on the second last hole saw her sign for level par.

Day two saw a very different start from Byrne, she dropped six bridies in her opening nine holes to race up the leaderboard.  A level par back nine left the Douglas golfer in second place four shots off the lead.  It was much the same on the final day of the tournament.  Sara started well again, going five under for the opening nine.  She kept the momentum, going adding more birdies to finish on -7 to shoot her lowest round of the season with a 65.  That was enough to lead the tournament, finishing ahead of another Miami teammate with a better countback score.  It was Byrne’s first win the US and follows a great run in 2023.  In June she won the Irish Womens Close and followed that with impressive performances across the amateur and professional tours.  In August she took the top amateur place at the KPMG Womens Irish Open in Dromoland.

It was an impressive team performance from the Miami team in their fourth tournament of the season.  They finished off in style with the top three players and they also took home the team title.  The win was the teams first in five seasons and they also beat the previous team record for the best combined score (-34).

It’s a busy few weeks for Byrne, and this week she’s wearing her Irish colours for the World Amateur Team Championships in the UAE.  She is part of a team of three representing Ireland.  The tournament started yesterday and will run through to Saturday.  Byrne along with Beth Coulter and Aine Donegan will be hoping for a good run and will be hoping to place Ireland high in the leaderboard.

When she finishes her final round on Saturday she’ll have to pack up and prepare for Sunday’s trip back to Miami, and then get ready for 36 holes on Monday when she’ll lead the Hurricanes in their home event.  That will make the end of the fall schedule and Sara will then have a few months to focus on her studies.

Daniel Hallissey was another Cork golfer who was back in the winners circle.  Hallissey partnered with Alex Beach last week to win the prestigious Whitey Voight Pro Am in New Jersey last week.  The multiple national cups and shields winner from Muskerry shot a 64 alongside his professional partner to win the 18 hole event by one shot.  Hallissey, now playing out of Westchester Country Club threw in five of the seven birdies on their way to winning.

There were more Irish golfers in action in New Jersey last week when Ireland took on the Metropolitan Golf Association in the annual Carey Cup.  Kanturk’s Mairead Martin was the first Cork woman to be selected on an Irish selection.  The famous Winged Foot was the venue for this year’s competition, the 2020 US Open host venue provided a tough test for the Irish golfer and the MGA took a commanding lead after the opening round of foursomes and fourballs.

Much like Cork on Friday, rain stopped play in the singles meaning a win for the MGA.  The competition was first played in 1990 in New Jersey. The teams played once again in Ireland in 1992 but did not meet in 1994.  In 1996, the matches were conducted again thanks to an effort spearheaded by Governor Hugh L. Carey, who envisioned the matches as an opportunity to foster sportsmanship and goodwill between the countries.  It was subsequently named the Carey Cup and ever since, the matches have been played in his honour.

The Munster PGA kicked off their winter series last week with a visit to Cork Golf Club.  Fortunately for the group of over 20 pro’s, the event was on Monday which was well ahead of the flooding that was to follow later in the week.  The course in Little Island was in great condition with firm fairways and fast greens.  John Dooley took the honours with 39 points, winning by one from David Ryan.  John Hickey, Padraig Dooley and Paul Eivers all finished with 35 points to share third place.