Lee Valley set for bumper Scratch Cup

Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup Launch 8th Mar 2017_1

Pictured at the launch of the Dell EMC Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup were Pat Power (Captain), Elaine Beare and Gillian Bergin (Dell EMC) and Declan Farrell (President)

The golf season is finally getting underway and last week Lee Valley launched their showpiece Senior Scratch Cup which takes place next month.  The 54 hole tournament is the only club event in Cork that attracts WAGR world ranking points and should again attract some of Ireland’s top amateurs.  The competition takes place on the 22/23 April and just a week after the West of Ireland unofficially opens the 2017 season.  Tournament Director Vincent Drinan has been involved since the inaugural 54 hole event in 2009 and he’s already busy taking entries.  “We are really looking forward to another great event this year” said Drinan.  “Entries are now open and anyone interested in playing should contact me directly.  Last year we used a later date in April and this worked very well, and the course should be in excellent condition for the event.  The feedback has always been positive from the entrants, both from local golfers who play here regularly and from those who travel.  We already have a number of Continue reading

Murphy Claims Munster Students Title

John Murphy Munster StudentsJohn Murphy claimed the inaugural Munster Students title in Cork Golf Club today, the Kinsale golfer won on the result at 36 holes after play was cancelled on the final day.  Snow and heavy rain rendered the course unplayable and after consulting with course staff, Tournament Director Dave Prendergast had no option but to cancel the final round with the results from 36 holes declared.  Murphy finished on a total of 138 (-6) for the 36 holes, four shots clear of James McVicker (Knock) who took second place.  Third place went to Cathal Butler (Kinsale), and holder Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little) was fourth, both golfers also finished on -2.

It was Murphy’s second Munster title, the Irish Boys international won the Munster Boys title in 2016.  “It feels good, it’s a great start to the year” said Murphy.  “It’s a long season so it’s a confidence boost to get an early win.  Monday was a little disappointing, especially on the back nine.  Yesterday I was happy to be on -4 through 10 as I wasn’t playing my best.  I missed a few chances on the way in yesterday, I hit a poor tee shot on 16th but scrambled a par which kept me on track.”  His 68 in the second round tied for the lowest score on the day, keeping him ahead of the field.  Murphy has a busy few weeks ahead as the season gets into full swing: “I’m playing in St Andrew’s next week for the Bursar’s Tournament and then I’m playing in London in the Berkhamsted Trophy.  After that I’m Continue reading

Murphy leads Munster Students after second round 68

Golf_Fred Daly South QF_Kinsale_John Murphy_May 2015

Kinsale’s John Murphy 

John Murphy stormed to the top of the leaderboard on day 2 of the Munster Students Championship, thanks to an excellent 68.  He’s now four shots clear of the field on 6 under par.  68 was a popular number in Cork Golf Club today, with both James McKeever and Cathal Butler posting 68’s.  Butler will disappointed despite tying the low round of the day, he was seven under before carding a triple bogey on the 17th.  The Kinsale man dusted himself off and recovered with a par on the 18th.  Butler recorded six birdies and an eagle, with one bogey and the triple in the impressive round.

Murphy’s 68 was less dramatic four birdies and a bogey on the front nine saw him on -3 at the turn.  He added a birdie on the 10th and shot par golf for the remaining eight holes.  The four hole cushion gives him a big advantage going into the final round, but there are some quality golfers in the chasing pack.  Monkstown’s Sean Desmond is tied for 5th on level par and James Sugrue is just inside the top Continue reading

Murphy leads Cork Challenge, Munster Students Day 1

John Murphy April 2016John Murphy (Kinsale/MU) lies just one shot off the lead after day one in the Munster Students Championship at Cork Golf Club.  The Munster Boys champion finished on two under after carding four birdies and two bogies.  The lead is held by Stefan Greenberg (Tandragee) and David Foy (Laytown & Bettystown)on three under, while holder Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little/MU) is just one shot off the lead.

Sean Desmond (Monkstown/UCC) is in the top ten after signing for a one over par 73.  Desmond won a Munster Senior Cup title with Monkstown in Cork last August and the course clearly suits him.  The UCC student was four under through six holes but he dropped two shots before the turn.He had a mixed start to the back nine and a double bogey 15th meant that he signed for a 73.  Kinsale’s Cathal Butler is one shot back and also in the top ten.  He eagled the par five second Continue reading

Strong Field for Munster Students

Murphy & ButlerMany of Ireland’s top young golfers will be heading for Cork next week for the inaugural staging of the Munster Students Championship.  The newly named Championship replaces the Munster Youths and it features a new ladies competition along with a team competition.  Munster Strokeplay Champion Cathal Butler will be joined by Munster Boys Champion John Murphy, and the Kinsale golfers will lead the strong local challenge.  Both Murphy and Butler are representing Maynooth University and the home of the Harrington Scholars golf programme will travel in force.  Also wearing the MU colours will be Jack McDonnell won the Munster Youths title in Monkstown last year.  The team competition will see many colleges enter multiple teams, with the best two scores counting from the three person team.  In the ladies competition, local hopes will rest with Muskerry’s Jean O’Driscoll (UCC) and Douglas’ Aiofe Ni Thuama Continue reading

Cork IT level Inter-Varsity series, Results from Douglas Golf Club.

cork-it-logoDouglas Golf Club hosted the third round of the Cork inter-varsity league last week, and Cork IT leveled the contest with a narrow one point win over UCC.  Although Cork IT have won two of the three rounds, UCC’s margin of victory in the first round meant that Cork IT were playing catch-up in the aggregate scoring format.  The golfers have a quick turn around with the fourth event scheduled for Monkstown on Thursday.  The final round is scheduled for Lee Valley where the overall league winners should be decided.

Cork IT GC 5.5-4.5 UCC GC

Tristan Coakley beat Adan Ahern 3&1
Adam McSweeney beat Sean Desmond 2&1
Luke Cummins beat Paul Tobin 3&2
Darragh Herlihy lost to Darren Hourihan 3&2
Conor Roche lost to John Boylan 3&2
David O’Sullivan lost to Colm Power 4&3
Jack Boyd beat Aoife Ni Thuama 4&3
Cathal O’Carroll halved with Grace McGrath
Darragh Cashman lost to Deirdre Galvin 2&1
Rory Dineen beat Paula Walsh 6&4.

UCC GC are hosting a charity golf classic in aid of the popular college charity, the Surgeon Noonan Society.  The event takes place on Friday 24th March in Lee Valley and some times are still available.  A three person team (including meal) is €200 and enquiries or bookings can be made by contacting any one from the committee or surgeonnoonangolf@gmail.com

Smartphones Direct

 

JB Carr Trophy Draw

The draw for the 2017 JB Carr Trophy has been made and there are a total of 19 Cork golf clubs involved.  There are two Cork sections, roughly drawn on an east/west basis.  The first round matches in both sections are to be completed by the middle of April with the section finals scheduled for June.

JB Carr Cork A

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JB Carr Cork B

 

 

No joy for Davis College in Schools Senior Championship

Irish Schools Senior Championship Munster Final, Cahir Park Golf, Mon 6th March 2017, De La Salle Waterford v Davis College Mallow

Davis College Mallow

Davis College Mallow lost out in the Munster Final of the Irish Schools Senior Championship yesterday but only after giving favourites De La Salle Waterford a tough test in the final.  The finals took place in Cahir Park and it was a credit to the course and specially the staff that the course was open.  A modified course was in play, with the competition taking place over two loops of the nine holes on the clubhouse side of the River Suir.  Davis College had a good win over Crescent College (Limerick) in the semi-final, winning 3-2.  De La Salle had beaten Douglas Community School in their semi-final, they closed out the first three points as they proved too strong for the Cork side.

Gallery: De La Salle Waterford v Davis College, Irish Schools Senior C/ship Munster Final

Despite the strong wind and heavy showers, there was some very competitive golf on display, with several Irish and Munster capped players on each team.  As the matches came through the 18th for the first time, the Continue reading