Author: niall@corkgolfnews.com

Ten Cork golfers advance at the South

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Joe O’Neill (Berehaven) in action at the 2023 South of Ireland, sponsored by Pierse Motor Group. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Cork golfers had some impressive performances at the South of Ireland last week with ten golfers making the cut.  Dean O’Riordan, Joe O’Neill and Robert Walsh all made it through on the cut mark of +6 while Mel Deasy was one better on +5.

Peter O’Keeffe was just one off the leading qualifier on -5 and Morgan Cain was the only other Cork player under par on -2.  Former South Champion Sean Desmond went safely through on +1 with James Walsh continuing his good run of form to finish in the top 20.  Munster Strokeplay winner Jason Law also made Continue reading →

Douglas and Monkstown win Munster East Titles

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They had to travel outside Cork to win, but Douglas and Monkstown both tasted success in boys inter-club events recently.  Douglas travelled to Waterford on Saturday to play Faithlegg at home in the Munster East final of the Fred Daly Trophy.  Playing the hosts was going to be a tough assignment but with a full panel available, Douglas would have been confident when heading East.  They had Continue reading →

Pennant wins for Clonakilty, Douglas and Fota Island

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Fota Island, winners of AIG Women’s Junior Foursomes Munster East Final at Fermoy.          Pic: Niall O’Shea

Clonakilty, Douglas and Fota Island all claimed Munster East pennants over the weekend as more of the Golf Ireland Inter-Club finals took place.  Fermoy was the venue for five finals over the weekend, and the north Cork course was in great condition for the event.  Fermoy has been held in high regard as a finals venue for many years and they club delivered a great experience yet again for the travelling teams and supporters.  Occasional showers over the two days challenged the golfers and the spectators but the course held up and as usual the greens provided a tough but fair test for everyone.   Clonakilty made it two wins for Cork clubs when they defeated Slievenamon in the AIG Challenge Cup.

Clonakilty, winners of AIG Women’s Challenge Cup Munster East Final at Fermoy Golf Club.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Fota Island made it two wins in two weekends when the Women’s Junior Foursomes team defeated Youghal.  Paula Whitley and Suzanne Hickey put the first point on the board for Fota Island and the title was secured when Marissa O’Flynn and Theresa Roche won the final match.

Hopes of a second pennant for Fota Island were dashed with a dramatic 19th hole finish in the Flogas Irish Mixed Foursomes.  With the match balanced 2-2 the large crowd of spectators made their way to the first hole.  Their opponents, Co Tipperary Continue reading →

Fota win Barton Shield

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Sean Barry and John Doyle sheltering from the rain during the AIG Barton Shield in Dungarvan.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Fota Island captured their first Golf Ireland pennant in Dungarvan at the weekend, they came through four matches to win the Munster East Area Final.  The Cork side had an impressive win over Macroom on Saturday morning, and they had a similar win over hosts Dungarvan in the afternoon.  Going with the pairings of Sean Barry & John Doyle and Keith Crowley & David Howard they came through the first two matches to reach the semi-finals.

Gallery: AIG Barton Shield 2023, Munster East

With John Doyle unavailable due Continue reading →

Doyle wins Irish Boys Close at Monkstown

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John Doyle (Fota Island) pictured after winning the Irish Boys Close Championship at Monkstown Golf Club. Pic: Niall O’Shea

Fota Island’s John Doyle claimed his first national title last week when he won the Irish Boys Close in Monkstown.  The 15 year old from Mitchelstown won through in four match play games to lift the trophy after four days of golf in Monkstown.

The Mitchelstown CBS student shot two rounds of 71 in the stroke play qualifier to finish in 8th place and comfortably qualify for the round of 16 match play phase.  On Thursday morning he had a 2&1 win over Gordon Skillet and in the afternoon Continue reading →

More good golf from Byrne at LET Access

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Sara Byrne pictured back at Douglas Golf Club with the Irish Women’s Close Trophy.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Sara Byrne had another good performance at the LET Access tour in Sweden last week.  Fresh of the back of her 6th place finish at the Vasteras Open Byrne travelled to Upsala for the Capio Ogon Trophy.  The Douglas golfer started brightly with two level par rounds of 72 to lie inside the top ten.  A 76 on the closing day say Byrne fall to 12th place, but she picked up more important ranking points.  Between the two events Sara now has secured tour card status for the LET Access series for 2024 which provides her with playing rights regardless Continue reading →

Mairead Martin called into Irish Action

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Mairead Martin has been given her chance in Finland. Photo: Thos Caffrey / Golffile.

Cork will have two Irish internationals in action in Finland this week.  Mairead Martin has been called into the Irish team  for the European Ladies’ Team Championship following Áine Donegan’s US Open heroics.

Donegan was due to join Sara Byrne, Beth Coulter, Anna Foster, Kate Lanigan and Jessica Ross at Tawast Golf & Country Club in Finland next week but will instead continue her push for silverware after she made the cut at Pebble Beach.

Kanturk’s Martin was a recent nine-shot winner of the Ballybunion Ladies’ Scratch Cup, and the University of Louisville graduate now has a huge chance to make her mark on the big stage.

“With Áine progressing so well at Pebble Beach it’s a wonderful opportunity for Mairead to showcase her skills at the European Championships in Helsinki,” said Golf Ireland High Performance Director Neil Manchip.