Author: niall@corkgolfnews.com

Ward wins with Maynooth

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Kinsale’s Gary Ward was part of the Maynooth team that won the team competition at the Irish Colleges Strokeplay Championship.  Bad weather and a worse forecast meant that there was no play in Strandhill today, so the results from yesterday’s first round stood and Maynooth (B) won the title by five strokes.  Ward, who is currently studying product design and innovation in Maynooth, was joined by Sean Walsh, Colin Woodroofe and Jack McDonnell and the four of them secured another title for Maynooth.

As a result there was no change to the individual standings with Jonathan Yates winning thanks to a very impressive 71 yesterday.  Adam McSweeney (CIT) and Greg O’Mahony (UCC) were the best placed Cork players, both were tied in 10th place.

Irish Colleges Strokeplay Championship – Day 1 Report

O’Driscoll starts life as a Tour Pro

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Tommy O’Driscoll played his first round as a professional golfer today, and he carded a very respectable 75 on the Alps Tour in Egypt.  The season opener started today in Sokhna golf Clurse, the first of three weeks in Egypt.  O’Driscoll is just outside the top 50 heading into the second round.  Tommy’s younger brother Eamonn was also in action, the Mallow based amateur carded an opening 83 while David Carey shot a 69 for a share of 5th place.

McSweeney & O’Mahony lead Cork challenge at Colleges Strokeplay

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AIG Junior Cup Munster Finals

Adam McSweeney

Adam McSweeney and Greg O’Mahony posted the best of the Cork results at the first round of the Irish Colleges Strokeplay at Strandhill today.  McSweeney representing Cork IT and O’Mahony representing UCC both shot 76 to be tied in 10th place.  Altough it was a six over par round, the CSS for the day was 74 representing the stormy conditions that prevailed in Co Sligo.

Both Cathal Butler and Gary Ward are three shots back on 79, tied for 25th place.  Ward is on the Maynooth B team and they currently hold the lead in the team competition after the first round.  The second and final round takes place tomorrow.

Irish Colleges Stroke Play Team Scores

Irish Colleges Stroke Play Individual Scores

Entry to Munster events now open

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Online entry for the Munster Strokeplay and the Munster Youths is now open on Golfnet.  The current weather might not be conducive to playing golf, but qualifying conditions are only five or six weeks away and the wet winter should be a distant memory.  Well at least that’s what every golfer is hoping for!

Golf_GUIMB_Munster Strokeplay_Shaun Carter_May2015_2

Munster Strokeplay 2015 Champion Shaun Carter (The Royal Dublin) pictured at Cork Golf Club with Officers Robin Turnbull, President, Lady President Ann Kos, Captain Fergal Deasy, Lady Captain Katherine O’Kelly Lynch and Liam Harkin, GUI Munster Branch. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Cork Golf Club will host the Munster Strokeplay on 30th April & 1st May, the competition is the only 72 hole strokeplay event in Cork and it’s sure to attract a top class field as usual.  Last year 50 golfers from the field of 75 were playing off scratch or better.

Former winner Pat Murray was one of the first golfers to sign up and formidable Limerick GC golfer is now playing off +3.8.  Plenty more plus golfers can be expected for the prestigious event which is now in it’s 11th year.

Munster Strokeplay Championship Online Entry

 

 

Entry for the Munster Youths Amateur Open Championship is also open and this event takes place in Monkstown Golf Club at the end Continue reading →

Castlemartyr Ready for New Chapter

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It’s almost nine years since the course at Castlemartyr Resort opened, and the East Cork venue is set for an exciting 2016.  Hard work from the resort staff and the club committee since 2007 has kept the course and the club ticking along.  Now that new owners are in place, it seems like the club and course will grow and develop over the coming years.  Last month the club held their AGM, with representatives from the new owners attending to give an update on the plans that the new owners have.  Greg Shaw is the GM of the owners original property in Hampshire, Old Thorns Manor Continue reading →

Hot putter ensures another paycheck for Turner

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Niall Turner is safely through to the weekend at the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open in Yangon, Myanmar.  Two sucessive 69’s saw the Corkman finish on -6, well inside the cut mark of -3.  Turner was having a reasonably steady round, he was +1 for the day at the turn but was losing ground on the field.  The was until until the 14th, he birdied that and three of the next four holes to climb back up the leaderboard.  The bounceback was needed as Turner was in danger of missing the cut halfway through his second round.  Turner’s putter was hot on the greens again Continue reading →

Mission Hills Brian O’ Donovan shoots magical 59

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(Article from June 2015, translated version courtesy of Donal O’Donovan)

When “San Ge”, Mr. Liu Yongsan met with Irish Golf Instructor Brian O’Donovan after their round instead of calling him by his name, he addressed him respectfully as “Mr. 59” in Chinese, which refers to Brian’s excellent performance during the Mission Hills Day/Night Golf Tournament held on the Annika Course at Dongguan, Mission Hills on the June 27th 2015.

Brian O'Donovan 59

Mr. Iain Roberts (Master PGA Professional & Master Instructor MHGA), Mr. Tenniel Chu (Owner, Mission Hills), and Brian O’ Donovan.

 

During this round, Brian created a piece of history by shooting 59 (13 under par) in a round that consisted of 2 Eagles, 9 Birdies and 7 pars.  This completely impressed “San Ge”, a mission hills member who was playing in the same group. Even now, when Liu Yongsan recalls Brian’s stunning play he is full of praise. “There is a 59 Club with no more than 10 people joining in Continue reading →

O’Driscoll Brothers set to tee it up on Alps Tour

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Brothers Tommy & Eamonn O’Driscoll will be in action in the first Alps Tour event of the season.  The season kicks off in Egypt next week with the Red Sea El Ein Bay Open in Sokhna GC.  There are two further events in Egypt in February and both brothers will have a chance to test themselves against a field of emerging and seasoned professionals.

Tommy O'Driscoll & Eamonn O'DriscollTommy played several events on the Alps Tour last year and secured a full tour card at the recent qualifying school in France.  Although he’s still playing as an amateur, it’s likely Continue reading →

Youths (Boys and Girls) Pre-Season Training Day

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 Boys and Girls Pre-Season Training Day
Kinsale Golf Club, Friday 25th March 9am – 3.30pm
Content Suitable for Single Figure Handicappers
Fee €100

Click here to book your place

Ian Stafford PGA Advanced Professional

Ian Stafford JPEGIan has vast experience working with and developing skilled golfers having served as a Regional Coach for the ILGU for the past number of years and coaching the Irish Ladies and Girls teams at 2 European Championships.  Ian also is also the coach to the junior club in Kinsale Golf Club which has produced 3 boys Internationals in the past 18 months.  The topics Ian will be covering on the day are:

  • Tournament preparation, course mapping and game planning. Saving shots without changing your swing.
  • Skills testing, where you are now and where you need to be to compete and win.
  • Effective practice techniques, are you getting as much return from your practice as you should?

 Mark O Connell TPI Fitness Coach

Mark O'Connell TPI JPEGMark is both an accomplished golfer and rugby player and works as personal trainer and Titleist Performance Institute trainer at Dennehys Health and Fitness.

The topics Mark will be covering on the day are:

  • Importance of warm ups, injury prevention and golf specific drills
  • Nutrition and Hydration, the dos and don’ts and how it can affect performance
  • Workouts at Home, TPI foam rolling and stretching techniques

Numbers are limited to 8 participants (4 golfers per station) so book early

Click here to book your place

Impressive Closing 68 from Turner

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Niall Turner

A final round 68 from Niall Turner saw him jump 21 places from 44th position into a tie for 23rd place.  The Corkman had a nervy start, he missed the first five fairways and bogeyed the par four 6th hole, but he recovered before the turn and birdied 8 & 9 to get back to level par for the tournament.

There were no signs of fatigue for Turner or his caddie Kenneth Quillinan who had played 34 holes on Saturday after a rain suspension on Friday.  The Waterfall native parred the first seven holes of the back nine before chipping in for birdie on the 17th.  The big hitting Turner then reached the 542 yard par five 18th in two shots, and took two putts to birdie the hole and sign for a 68.  The two birdies saw Continue reading →