Pictures from Kanturk GC: Continue reading
Author: niall@corkgolfnews.com
Turner, Butler, Coyne, McKenna & Barry – Thursday Round-Up
Two wins for Butler in Wales
Cathal Butler had two wins in Wales today as Ireland beat Wales to take third place at the Boys Home Internationals. Butler partnered Devin Morley for the third day in the foursomes and the pair recorded their third win when they closed out their match on the 16th green. Butler was back in singles action this afternoon and he again finished on the 16th with a 3&2 win over Wales Tom Davies. Butler’s record for the 2015 Home Internationals will read as an impressive 4 points from a possible 5. The Kinsale golfer will be back in action on Sunday when his club head for Golf Coast Golf Club for the Munster finals of the Fred Daly Trophy.
McKenna Makes the Cut in Coventry
Ciaran McKenna needed two birdies in his final three holes to make the cut at the Galvin Green PGA Assistants Championship in Coventry today. McKenna was four over par after 15 and it looked like he was headed home. Birdies on the 16th and 17th rescued his card and a par at a last saw him through right on the cut mark. Davey Barry didn’t have the same luck, he couldn’t get his round together and finished well outside the cut.
Coyne out of Contention in Ulster Youths
Conor Coyne (Youghal) had a third round 75 to take him out of the reckoning at the Ulster Youths in Belvoir Park Golf Club. Final scores for the fourth round are no available but Coyne was over ten shots off the lead going into the final round.
Turner Leads Northern Ireland Open
After a lengthy injury lay-off, Muskerry’s Niall Turner is back in form and hold a share of the lead in the Challenge Tour event in Galgorm Castle. Turner shot a six under par 66 in his round this morning, including an impressive eagle 2 after driving the green on the par four second hole. Turner has a lie in tomorrow as his second round won’t get underway until 2.20pm
Wednesday Round-Up: Butler, Barry, McKenna & Coyne in Action
Ciaran McKenna is currently in the top 25 after the first round of the Galvin Green PGA Assistants Championship in Coventry Golf Club. Mallow’s McKenna had a very tidy level par opening round, his only birdie of the day came on the par five 4th, but he had one bogey to balance that on the 11th hole. His level par 73 has him five shots Continue reading
Fota’s Corporate Golf Challenge
After a successful first year, Fota have launched the 2015 Inter-Company golf challenge. The format is the same as last year, it’s an eight person team event playing singles stableford. The top five scores are counted and the top four companies go forward to the series final in Continue reading
Barry & McKenna in action in Coventry
Davey Barry (Douglas) and Ciaran McKenna (Mallow) are both in action in the final of the PGA Assistant’s Championship, starting on Wednesday.
It’s the first time since 2012 that a Cork golfer will be appearing in the final. Three years ago Brian O’Donovan was in action when the 72 hole tournament was held in East Sussex. O’Donovan, who was also representing Douglas Golf Club, finished in 12th in a field of over 130 golfers. Play in Coventry gets underway on Wednesday morning.
Fred Daly Trophy Munster Finals 2015
Monkstown lose out in Junior Foursomes Final
Monkstown came up just short of winning a Munster pennant at the Irish Junior Foursomes yesterday. Woodstock in Co Clare was the venue for the Munster finals and the Cork club beat Newcastlewest in an exciting semi-final match. That led to an afternoon final against Ballbunion. Unfortunately for Monkstown they were well beaten in the final, Sean Desmond and Cillian Desmond lost in the first match and Shane Livesey and Fionn Murray also lost in the second match.
Peter O’Keeffe, still in love with the game of Golf
Peter pictured at Dennehys Health & Fitness in Douglas.
Picture: Kestutis Anuzis
After several years as a professional golfer, Peter O’Keeffe is returning to the amateur ranks, but the Douglas man still intends to make a career from the sport, working as one of a few specialist golf fitness coaches. O’Keeffe has recently completed his certification as a Titleist Performance Institute Fitness instructor and has started a new golf fitness business based in Dennehy’s Health & Fitness in Douglas.
O’Keeffe’s interest in fitness and sports science started over a decade ago, when he attended Southeastern Louisiana University on a golf scholarship. As well as playing golf at the highest collegiate level, Peter studied sports science in his years in Louisiana. That gave him a solid foundation in the scientific end of the fitness and physiology, and his interest in the area was Continue reading
Tour Life Ain’t Cheap
Peter performing one of the stability and core strengthening exercises from the TPI training programme.
Picture: Kestutis Anuzis
For every Rory McIlroy there are hundreds if not thousands of professional golfers who try to make it on tour. In Ireland alone around a dozen amateurs turn professional every year. In addition to the European Challenge Tour, there are several mini-tours which offer aspiring professionals a chance to put a card in their pocket every week. However the pro-tours are not cheap to compete in, as Peter explains: “An average week on any of the pro tours
in Europe will cost €1,000 at least [entry fees, travel and accommodation], tour school entry is €2,000 and that’s before you buy yourself a sandwich. At no point would I moan about my time as a tour player, I achieved quite a lot in my career and it has led me to meet all the people that are now closest to me so there are no sour grapes. Professional golf is an amazing occupation provided the path is clear for your schedule but more importantly your mind. I could never jump the financial hurdle that would have allowed me to forget everything and send the ball where it needed it to go. Travelling the world with your clubs to play the best courses week after week is a great experience but the bank balance was always Continue reading
Luke Dennehy: Sports Specific Training the Way Forward
Luke Dennehy (left) and Peter O’Keeffe going through a warming up excercise at the gym in Douglas.
Picture: Niall O’Shea
Luke Dennehy, owner of the Dennehy Health & Fitness gyms in Douglas and Ballincollig, started Peter O’Keeffe’s TPI journey in 2012 and he has an interesting view on the concept of golf specific fitness training. He explained: “When I decided to get qualified in TPI back in 2012 it was purely for the niche in the market and not because of a background in golf or an real love for golf at the time. I knew it wasn’t that common, but people like Tiger Woods were changing the Continue reading
Cork Golf News 