Muskerry’s Ronan Twomey scooped home success, winning the Brewin Dolphin Senior Scratch Cup recently.  The 36 hole competition saw a two way tie at the top after two rounds, with Twomey tied with John Waldron, with Twomey winning on the first play-off hole.

Twomey is a regular winner of senior scratch cups, and previously won his home event in 2009 and he was delighted to add another win to his growing list of scratch cups.  Twomey admitted that his thoughts of a win were low.  “At this stage, probably not, but i suppose in your home club you always fancy your chances” said Twomey after his play-off win.  “We were going on a holiday the following morning so I was grand and relaxed so that helped.”

Surprisingly for the winner, his very first shot in the event resulted in a lost ball that left him a little bemused.  He went back to the 18^th tee and proceeded to birdie the hole with his second ball, resulting in a one over par score for the hole.  The 2009 winner would finish the first round on 72, two off the lead which was held by Fionn Hickey and John Waldron.  Barry Keane was on 71 and Olan Kelleher rounded out a Muskerry top five on 72.

Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup Winners

Twomey started on the 18^th again in the second round, allowing him to keep tabs on the first round leaders who were playing in front of him.  “I had a chance for birdie on the 17th which was my last hole but luckily I got into a play-off.  The lads who are leading were in the group of head so I thought I was there I may be one or two off at the end.”

The two man play-off started on Muskerry’s signature 6^th hole, and Ronan walked off the famous green as champion again.  He was delighted with the win, especially considering that he spends much less time practicing now with a busy job and home life.  Ronan is the manager of the American Golf store in Wilton, the busy golf shop is a hive for local golfers.

Although he comes from a golfing family and works in the sport, Ronan never tires of it and enjoys the role.  “We have a great time here there’s a good mix, a bit of experience and a few younger guys who go to college. I enjoy playing golf and I enjoy working in golf, you’re talking to people every day, there’s a good balance.”

“My attitude has certainly changed over the last few years, I just go out and try to enjoy it and see what happens.  For the last few years if I play once a week it is a lot. I don’t really tend to practice anymore, but I would have done a lot in the past and thankfully that’s still there, especially the short game.”

The Muskerry Scratch Cup is a great history of golf in Cork from the early seventies.  Tom Cleary won it on six occasions, and amazingly there was 34 years between his first and last win.  Cleary won two in a row in 76 and 77, and again in 79. After a gap of 14 years he won in 1993 and retained his title a year later.  A further 16 years passed until he added a sixth title in 2010.  Denis O’Sullivan and Karl Bornemann won four titles each and John McHenry won three in a row in 82, 83 and 84.  Twomey now joins a list of two time winners including Pat Lyons, Jimmy Murphy, Dave O’Donovan and Peter O’Keeffe.

Kinsale’s Shane Kenneally took the runner up prize at the Irish Seniors Open in Moyvalley last week.  Kenneally had a share of the lead after an opening 69, but a two over par on the second day saw him drift back to third place.  A final round 71 (-1) put him up into second place.  Cork’s Brian Kelleher continued his good form with a seventh place finish and Munster Seniors Champion Karl Bornemann was in the top twenty.  John O’Brien finished in third place in his category.

James Sugrue had another solid performance in the Alps Tour last weekend, it was the Mallow mans third event following a season disrupted by injury.  Sugrue was in action at the Lacanau Alps Open in France and opened with a two under par 70 to place him in the top 15.  He followed that with a second 70 but his final round 74 saw him drop a few places and finished in 40^th position.  Sugrue is back in action this week in Spain in the Alps de Roquentes de Mar tournament.  James is currently in the top 70 on the Order of Merit and will be hoping to move up the rankings over the coming events and secure status for 2025.