Pauline J McKechnie & Anthony O’Connell (Fota Island GC) taking part in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Pro-Am Qualifying Competition at Dooks, Picture: Golffile | Thos Caffrey
Two Cork clubs will be represented at the K Club today for the final of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Club Challenge. Both Fernhill and Fota Island will play in a fourball qualifier that will see the winning team qualify to play in the Irish Open Pro-Am next week. Pauline J McKechnie and Anthony O’Connell will represent Fota Island while Cathy McGuinness and Tony O’Donovan will head out in Fernhill colours. Killarney and Tipperary were the other successful qualifiers from the competition which was held in Dooks Golf Club two weeks ago.
22 teams from golf clubs across Ireland will do battle this today on the Smurfit Course at The K Club in the final of this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Club Challenge – with a chance to play alongside international golf superstars and world famous celebrities in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Pro–Am at stake.
The qualifying events took place at five of Ireland’s top golf courses, including Powerscourt GC in County Wicklow, Hollystown GC in Dublin, Rockmount GC in Belfast, Dooks GC in County Kerry and Galway Bay Golf Club, all of whom donated their excellent facilities in support of this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
Cathy McGuinness and Tony O’Donovan (Fernhill GC) taking part in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Pro-Am Qualifying Competition at Dooks, Picture: Golffile | Thos Caffrey
The theme for this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, hosted by the Rory Foundation at The K Club (May 19-22) is ‘History in the Making’ and that will certainly be the case when, for the first time ever, one lucky club team lines up to play alongside a top golfer in the prestigious Pro-Am competition. This initiative is part of Europe’s Race to Dubai Champion Rory McIlroy’s five-point plan to drum up support for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open from Ireland’s 420 golf clubs, as well as helping to further develop the game of golf in Ireland. For more information on the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation or to purchase tickets http://www.dubaidutyfreeirishopen.com.
James Sugrue recovered from an early double bogey to post a two under par 70, and jump into the top ten at the Flogas Irish Amateur Open. Sugrue had a 5 on the par three fourth hole, but bounced back with quick two birdies. More birdies on the back nine saw him move under par and he signed for a 70. The Mallow teenager is the best placed Cork golfer in action in Royal Dublin, he now on -3. Mark Shanahan finished with a one under par 71 to move inside the top 20. It could have been much better only for a double bogey on the 17th and he’s now on -1 for the tournament.
Mark Shanahan and James Sugrue both shot two under par 70’s at Royal Dublin today in the second round of the Flogas Irish Amateur Open. Sugrue is now two under for the tournament and he’s just outside the top 10. Around half of the field have completed their second rounds. Castlemartyr’s Mark Shanahan is two shots behind Sugrue. He had a mixed start to his round but he birdied three of the last six holes to get back into the red and he’s on level par after 36 holes. Shanahan is tied for 20th place currently. John Hickey bounced back from his opening 75, he had four birdies and two bogies and signed for a 70 to get back to +1. Cathal Butler shot a second round 74 and he now also sits in 30th place on +1. Ian O’Rourke is currently on +5, he added a 75 to his opening 74 and he’ll need a better score tomorrow to make the 54 hole cut.
There was an air of familiarity today as David Higgins clocked up another win, this time it was a play-off win over Michael McDermott to secure the Irish Club Professional Tournament. Higgins was the only golfer in the field to break par and his one under par 70 was enough to stake a share of 1st place. Dunmurry Springs was the venue and it took two tie holes to separate the pair. Higgins needed a good up an down to save par at the first, but he hit the green in regulation on the second when McDermott found water.
Castlemartyr Golf Club held its first Open Weekend competition over the Bank Holiday weekend. The club had Halpenny Golf on board as a new sponsor to support this event, with over 200 golfers playing over the weekend. Recent weather had disrupted preparation of the golf course for the weekend, but the course was in great condition on Friday morning as the first golfers headed out. Conditions for the weekend were reasonable if not a little cold for the time of year. This obviously had no effect on scoring as there were some great rounds posted over the weekend. This was especially true on Sunday where there were a number of scores in the high forty’s.
