Author: niall@corkgolfnews.com

Monkstown set for Munster Youths

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Monkstown will host the prestigious Munster Youths Open this week and this is another event in a line of high profile events held at the club in recent years.  In 2014 they hosted the ILGU National finals over five days and in 2008 they hosted the week long GUI Cups & Shields finals.

Golf_Monkstown Golf Club 18th Fairway

Monkstown’s 18th fairway with the water hazard in the foreground. The course will host the Munster Youths from Wednesday to Friday. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Monkstown Captain Carl Toal is really looking forward to the event, especially considering the long run of poor weather endured by golfers locally.  “It was a difficult few months where the bad weather was relentless really said the Captain, “and like many courses in the area, we welcome the recent improvement and stretch in the evenings.  We are only back to playing 18 holes in the last two or three weeks. The course has stood up well considering the conditions we Continue reading →

Butler through to last 16 in West of Ireland

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Cathal ButlerKinsale’s Cathal Butler had two good wins today to make it through to the last 16 in the West of Ireland Championship.  Butler qualified on the cut mark of 82 and had an impressive 4&3 win over Jamie Fletcher this morning.  This afternoon he faced Conor O’Rourke from Naas, and he dispatched the Irish International on the 17th, winning 2&1.  Butler will have Dermot McElroy tomorrow morning, the Ballymena golfer is the current holder of the West of Ireland title.  The NUIM student has entered the Munster Youths which starts in Monkstown on Wednesday, his plans might yet change with the final of the West scheduled for Wednesday also.

Seanie Barry was first on the course this morning, he had the tough challenge of playing against Sean Flanagan from Co Sligo.  As well as being a local Flanagan was the leading qualifier.  Barry matched Flanagan for most of the round in a very entertaining match.  He eventually lost out to Flanagan on the 18th.

Mark Shanahan got off to a good start this morning and was leading by 2 at the turn.  Play went against him however and he lost to Ben Best on the 18th.  Niall Gorey was a withdrawal this morning due to a shoulder injury and is likely to be out for a few weeks.  Ian O’Rourke also lost out in the first round, he lost out to Intervarsity Champion Alex Gleeson on the 17th.

West of Ireland Championship 2016 Round 2 Results

Teenager Leonard claims Ford Junior Scratch Trophy

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Ford Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy 2016

Sean Leonard discussing options with Clem Leonard.  Pic: Niall O’Shea

Mitchelstown teenager Sean Leonard won the Ford Junior Scratch Trophy in Muskerry this afternoon, completing Cork’s toughest test in golf.  Leonard won all six of his matchplay games over the past three days to win the famous trophy.

Round by Round Results

This morning he beat Muskerry’s Michael O’Callaghan and this afternoon he beat another Muskerry man, Bernard Twomey.  Leonard had a good start, going three up after 8 holes, but Twomey cut the deficit to just one hole by the time they had reaches the 13th tee.  Leonard hit back with some very impressive golf, and won the next three holes to close out the match on the 14th, winning on a scoreline of 4&3.

Gallery: Ford Junior Scratch Trophy Semi-Finals

Ford Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy 2016Ford Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy 2016Ford Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy 2016

Five Cork golfers through in Rosses Point

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Mark Shanahan, Cathal Butler and Seanie Barry, Ian O’Rourke and Niall Gorey all made the cut for the matchplay stage of the West of Ireland Championship.  40mph winds this afternoon forced a suspension in play and the inability to continue led to the cancellation of the second strokeplay round.   The tournament committee had a tough decision and decided to make the matchplay draw based on the first round only.

Mark Shanahan and Paul McCarthy had made the good weather on Saturday morning, they both returned 73’s to put themselves in a good position.  McCarthy was one of those adversely affected by the cancellation of Round 2, his 73 this morning to see him provisionally in 21st place with half of the second round scores in.  McCarthy’s first round 84 meant that he finished in 85th place and two shots outside the cut mark.  Cork’s John Hickey also finished on 84, two shots outside the cut.

Sean Barry (Fota Island) was the 64th and final golfer to make the cut, he’ll face leading qualifier Sean Flanagan from Co Sligo in the first game tomorrow.

West of Ireland Matchplay Draw

 

 

Down to final 8 golfers in Muskerry

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The Round of 16 was completed this morning and only 8 golfers remain in the hunt for the Ford Junior Scratch Trophy.  There were several more tight matches with three of the eight matches going to the 19th.  Muskerry have two golfers left in the competition and Cork are guaranteed a semi-finalist as Jack O’Flynn faces Kevin O’Connell.

Ford Junior Scratch Trophy Quarter Finals:
Bernard Twomey (Muskerry) v Kevin Byrne (East Cork)
Jack O’Flynn (Cork) v Kevin O’Connell (Cork)
Sean Leonard (Monkstown) v Jack Heffernan (Doneraile)
Michael O’Callaghan (Muskerry) v Desmond O’Regan (Mahon)

Round 3 Results:

Ford Junior Scratch 2016 R3

Monkstown Junior Easter Camp

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Monkstown Golf Club Junior Easter CampMonkstown has been a busy place this week, in addition to the usual weekly competitions, over 50 young golfers have been taking part in a three day Easter Camp.  Following the success of a junior camp last October, Monkstown Club Pro Cian McNamara had planned to run another camp over Christmas.  Wet weather put a stop to that but McNamara along with Monkstown’s assistant Pro Graeme Dunlea have had a very busy week.  They have been running three sessions daily to cater for kids taking part in their Easter Camp.  “We have a group of 51 kids involved in camp” Cian explained, “with juniors ranging from 6 years of age to 13.  The majority of juniors are not members.  The main reason for this is that we have coaching provided weekly for juniors that are members alongside with events scheduled so members are more than catered for during holiday period.”

>>>Gallery: Monkstown Junior Easter Camp<<<

Graeme Dunlea

Monkstown’s Graeme Dunlea

Graeme Dunlea joined Monkstown from Adare Golf Club in late 2015 and his addition to the Monkstown team has allowed himself and Cian to develop a strong junior golf programme.  Both were introduced to the game at a young age and Cian explained their objectives for the camps: “The primary goal from the camp is to introduce Juniors at the youngest possible age to the game of golf in the most friendly environment possible.  Both Graeme and I have firm beliefs in how juniors should be nurtured during their introduction to the game.  The club are very supportive with our coaching plan and we plan to hold camps during all holiday periods.”  In addition to the three day camps, Monkstown have an ongoing programme to encourage new juniors to take up the game as Cian explained: “We also have three weekly junior time slots that non-members can attend, so if anybody was interested they could just contact the pro shop and ask for either Graeme or myself and we will give information about are on-going junior golf program.  Our highest priority is growing the enjoyment of the game.  We are very happy with our progression and continue to improve our coaching plan.  Once we can keep juniors having fun we can implement different coaching principles over time.

Clancy Wins Munster Senior Open Championship

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Valerie Clancy

Valerie Clancy

Valerie Clancy from Mitchelstown won the ILGU Munster Senior Open in Waterville today after poor weather forced the cancellation of the final round.  Clancy led the field by five strokes after the first two rounds.  She had played seven holes today before organisers were forced to halt the third round as high winds made the course unplayable.  The Killarney member shot the low round of the day yesterday (74) to maintain her lead from the first round.  She was the only golfer to break 80 on Wednesday as she recorded a 77 in very testing conditions at the Continue reading →