Author: niall@corkgolfnews.com

Scene set for another great Lee Valley Scratch Cup

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Jack Murphy (Douglas) pictured with the 2024 BoyleSports Lee Valley Scratch Cup, sponsored by BoyleSports. Also included are Peter Tuite (BoyleSports) and Vincent Drinan and Finbarr McCarthy from Lee Valley.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

The Lee Valley Scratch Cup takes place this weekend and the 2025 staging promises to have another top class field.  The event has moved from it’s regular May date due to works on the course in Lee Valley.  The second green in the Christy O’Connor signature course has been completely redesigned and rebuilt, and it has fully grown in over the past four months. Tournament Director Vincent Drinan and the tournament committee decided to postpose the event until the end of the season.

With it’s new October date, it represents one of the last chances to win some silverware, and Vincent is in the final stages of planning.  “As a club we are really looking forward to holding our SSC” said Drinan.  “Our main reason for having it in October is because our new second green Continue reading →

Lee Valley set for 2025 Scratch Cup

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Jack Murphy (Douglas) pictured with the BoyleSports Lee Valley Scratch Cup, sponsored by BoyleSports. Also included are Peter Tuite (BoyleSports) and Vincent Drinan and Finbarr McCarthy from Lee Valley.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

The closing date for entries for the Lee Valley Scratch Cup is fast approaching, and the 2025 staging promises to have another top class field.

The 54 hole WAGR counting event takes place in two weeks time with the final entries being accepted in Wednesday next.  Boyle Sports are the title sponsors of the event, the long-time supporters renewed their commitment to the event immediately after the 2024 staging.

The event has moved from it’s regular May date due to works on the course in Lee Valley.  The second green in the Christy O’Connor signature course has been completely Continue reading →

Clonakilty chase first AIG All-Ireland glory

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Clonakilty Golf Club celebrate their AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield quarter-final victory at Mannan Castle

Since opening in 1994, Clonakilty Golf Club has undergone many changes, but this weekend could mark the beginning of its most exciting chapter yet as Liam Dennehy and his side chase a history-making performance at the AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield All-Ireland Finals in Mannan Castle.

Having hosted the quarter-finals of both the AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield and Women’s Minor Foursomes in August, Mannan Castle now welcomes eight teams from across the island, with semi-finals taking place on Friday, before the All-Ireland deciders on Saturday.

Formerly known as Lisselan Golf Club, Clonakilty has evolved from a six-hole layout to its current 14, with planning recently approved to extend Continue reading →

Keane wins second Bruen Youths Title

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Barry Keane chalked up a second Bruen Youths title at Muskerry recently, joining a elite list of two time winners.  The event has been running for almost 40 years and commemorates Jimmy Bruen’s Muskerry legacy.

Keane first won the title in 2021, and backed up that performance with an very impressive 68 to win by five shots.  The Munster Barton Shield winner was delighted to add his name to the trophy for a second time.  “Winning it again was really special. The first time felt like a breakthrough because I was so young, but this one came with more expectation, which added some pressure” said Keane after his win.  £To have my name on the trophy alongside some big names is something I’m really proud of, and none of this would’ve happened without the great coaching I’ve received from Fred Twomey over the past few years.”

Keane was delighted with the way he played, he led from the front and stay out in front to win by an impressive margin.  “I played really solid golf overall, getting off to a quick start with a 32 (-4) on the front nine, which gave me Continue reading →

Howard bids to cap breakthrough year with North crown

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David Howard in action at the Irish Mid-Amateur Men’s & Women’s Open Championship
 ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

David Howard is aiming to cap off his breakthrough year with another top performance as the Fota Island golfer targets a second championship crown of 2025 at the North of Ireland Men’s Amateur Open Championship, which returns to Portstewart this week for the first time since 2019.

The world-renowned Strand Course will welcome 120 competitors from across Ireland, the UK and Europe, with play beginning on Wednesday morning.

The field is set to face 36 holes across the opening two days before the top 36 plus ties advance to Friday’s final rounds.

Having committed himself full-time to golf in the past couple of years, Howard has reaped the benefits of a more dedicated schedule, most notably this season when the 26-year-old was crowned East of Ireland champion at Continue reading →

Julia Falvey Ryan is a European Champion

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Julia Falvey Ryan produced a fantastic performance to claim the Women’s European Individual Championship for Golfers with Disability title in Malmö, Sweden last week.  The Fota Island golfer shot a final round 73 (+2) to end the tournament in a tie for 5th overall in the Standing Category, and in doing so finished as the highest-placed female in the field, taking home the Women’s prize.

Coming back from a recent injury, she was delighted with the victory.  “It felt amazing to win the European women’s title this year, it was my first European individual championships for golfers with disabilities, so it was a nice way to end the week!  It was very unexpected out of myself.  My coach Ian Stafford and I had the expectation of shooting a lot higher than what I did shoot.”

“I personally was going there to enjoy the tournament, being with the Irish team and to get through a tournament so that I would be happy in myself to play a tournament because the season was thrown up in the air a bit.  We were aiming to shoot a bit higher than what I was actually able to produce and that was a personal win that I was absolutely delighted about.”

Julia was selected for the Irish Under 16 Girls team in the Spring, but picked up a serious injury that sidelined her for much of the season.  “I didn’t get to Continue reading →

Douglas Double Up in AIG Senior Cup

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Barry O’Connell leads the celebrations after holing the putt that won the AIG Men’s Senior Cup for Doulgas
Credit ©INPHO/Tom Maher

There were incredible scenes in Douglas Golf Club on Sunday as the club pulled off an improbable double, winning the AIG Women’s and Men’s Senior Cups.  While both teams fielded strong sides, even one win was unlikely after the first nine holes with both teams trailing their opponents.

The drama unfolded slowly at first when the Douglas ladies staged a comeback when they were up against it.  Áine Donegan and Chloe Ryan won the first two points for opponents Lahinch to ensure they were well in the fight.  Shannon Burke continued her 100% record with another impressive 5&4 win to put a point on the board for the home team and Karen O’Neill Continue reading →

Lee Valley Girls win national title in Meath

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There were scenes of joy last week in Donabate as Lee Valley claimed the Girls Inter-Club national title.  Golfers Heather O’Gorman, Clodagh O’Sullivan and Jessica Power combined to help their side finish on top.  Lee Valley were back in the All-Ireland final after coming up short in Warrenpoint last year and finished three points ahead of Roganstown to claim a national pennant.

Lee Valley Captain Roisin Murray, said it was a huge boost for a young group who showed their potential on the big stage again.  “It was definitely worth the long trip up, we are delighted, over the moon,” said Murray.  “The girls have been playing really well all year so we came up, did the practice round, they really enjoyed it and they went out this morning and we just said try your best.

“When the scores came in they were just the right scores today, it was brilliant. We were watching the whole time and when our first girl came in, she told us she had 39 points and we were like, holy God.  “We weren’t Continue reading →

Bornemann claims 3rd Irish Title

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Karl Bornemann in action at the Irish Seniors Mens Close at Nenagh last week. Bornemann retained his Irish Veterans title, beating John O’Brien in the final.
Credit ©INPHO/Leah Scholes

Karl Bornemann claimed another national title last week, he won his third Irish title when he retained his Irish Veterans title in Nenagh.  The Douglas golfer set his intention early when he posted a one under par 71 for the opening round.  He finished the 36 hole qualifier stage in the leading position with Castlemartyr’s John O’Brien two shots behind in second place.

As it happened the top two finishers both reached the final with Bornemann getting the better of O’Brien to in his second Irish Continue reading →

Monkstown Celebrate PGA Success

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Monkstown Golf Club came in for lots of praise last week after their successful hosting of the Irish PGA Championship. One of the oldest professional championships in the world, the 115th staging is the showpiece event of the PGA Irish Region tour, and it returned to Cork for the first time since 1997 when Fota Island hosted the event.
With the course in great condition, Monkstown put on a show from start to finish. The action started on Monday with a sold out ProAm where Neil O’Briain, Dick Dunlea, Dan Cronin and Continue reading →