Pictures from Portmarnock: Continue reading
Author: niall@corkgolfnews.com
Gallery: Munster Seniors 2019, Killarney
Pictures from the second round in Killarney: Continue reading
Sugrue through to Amateur Matchplay
James Sugrue was the only Cork golfer to make it trough to the last 64 in the Amateur Championship. After two strokeplay rounds in Portmarnock and The Island, the Mallow man finished in 46th place on +3 after two testing rounds. Sugrue, with his usual partner Conor Dowling on the bag, was out on Portmarnock yesterday. And like the majority of the field he found it a tough day. While he commented the it was “insanely long”, he knew that a patient approach was probably the only way to survive the 7,000 yard course. The wind picked up mid-morning and Sugrue couldn’t avoid a few bogies on the front nine. A run of six pars was a welcome Continue reading
Gallery: The Amateur Championship 2019 – Strokeplay
Pictures from the first round: Continue reading
Kinsale Scratch Cup set for 29th June
Kinsale’s Senior Scratch Cup is set to be played on Saturday 29th of June, and with the club hosting the AIG Barton Shield in July, it’s sure to attract a large field of golfers. The Scratch Cup has a fresh feel as a result of its inclusion on the 2019 Munster Senior Interprovincial Order of Merit. The competition expects a high-quality field of Munster hopefuls, aiming to play their way on to the Munster Senior Interprovincial team. The South Munster Barton Shield qualifier will take place in Kinsale Golf Club in July. Kinsale won the Munster Barton Shield in 2018 and will be relishing the prospect of qualifying at home. The Scratch Cup will provide an ideal opportunity for clubs participating in the Barton Shield to get acquainted with some of the course changes in advance of the qualifier. With a gap in the national calendar, it’s also gives everyone a chance at a win at a major local event, one which dates back over 50 years.
The Kinsale Scratch Trophy was first played in September 1961 as a club competition and was won by Cork Golf Club. The format consisted of an inter-club scratch competition for teams of four, involving morning foursomes followed by afternoon singles with all scores to count in a Ryder Cup style format. In more recent years, the Scratch Cup has switched from a team to an individual format intermittently. Kinsale signalled the end of the team format of the competition on a winning note. Kieran McCarthy, Paul Crowley, Shane Kenneally and Keith O’Shea emerging victorious in 2007.
In 2008, the event returned to an individual format and the cup remained in Kinsale after John Keating secured the win. Notable past winners (as individuals and team players) include the Higgin’s family from Cork Golf Club in Continue reading
Simon’s new job in Cork
Simon O’Hara
Simon O’Hara took as the Course Superintendent in Cork Golf Club last year, and the Currabinny native is relishing the new role in the famous Little Island links. Having worked in Fota Island for close to 20 years, O’Hara was an ideal candidate to take over from Anthony Gillis who retired last year. While the move was from one island to another, O’Hara has had an interesting journey to get to Cork. “I have had a fortunate life, a great upbringing in Currabinny, Co. Cork, with lots of outdoor pursuits; sailing, swimming, fishing, and lots of sports” explained Simon, “I was given a great appreciation of nature and landscapes by my artistic Parents, Anna and Patrick. Whilst I always wanted to work outdoors, the path was not so obvious, but during my early college adventures, I had the great fortune to be introduced to golf by Continue reading
Open Season at Fota Island
The US Open begins tomorrow, and as part of the ongoing Masters Open Series, Fota Island have a special offer running for the duration of the tournament. From tomorrow through to Sunday, golfers can avail of a special green fee rate of €60 (incl Sat & Sun) and that includes a main course special in The Clubhouse. Bookings can be made online or through the Pro Shop by calling 021 4883700.
The course in Fota is in great condition, and having worked through on the continuous improvement ethos that exists at the five star resort, golfers will benefit from the attention to detail from the golf team, turning a round of golf into a great experience. As well as the ongoing work on the 27 hole layout, some major improvements have also taken at The Academy where new tees and a selection of target greens have been added to the range to enhance the experience and allow golfers to maximise their practice time. Lessons, custom fitting, and new gym are also available. Membership of the Academy, including access to the nine holes that surround it, is open and full details are available from any member of the Pro Shop team.
Pro Shop Challenge IV, Kinsale Golf Club
Cathal Butler and John Murphy (centre) pictured with Ian Stafford and Ger Broderick at the Pro Shop Challenge at Kinsale last week. Picture: Aidan Stafford
Kinsale’s Pro Shop Challenge is back, and the fourth staging of the charity fundraiser is set for a change with the pro’s taking on the internationals in August. The Kinsale Pro team remains the same, Ger Broderick and Ian Stafford are currently in training in the hope of winning back the title they lost last year. The line up on the other side has changed though, the amateurs are now restyled as the “internationals” and it also features a change in the line up. 14 year old Eoghan Cassidy will line up with John Murphy. Murphy is currently on the senior Irish team while Cassidy is on the Irish Under 14 and Under 16 squads. The event takes place on Thursday 15th August, and there should be a great afternoon of golf and fun. Ian Stafford has been the driving force behind the event, from a small start in 2016, the event has raised well over €11,000 for the charity partners. Keen to keep the event moving, Ian proposed a change to the format this year. “This year we are celebrating the fact that Kinsale Golf Club has had 2 International Golfers in the past twelve Continue reading
Sugrue in contention in St Andrews
James Sugrue (Mallow)
After rounds of 67 and 68, James Sugrue is in 5th place at the St Andrew’s Links Trophy in Scotland. It’s another boost for the Mallow man has been on a good run of form. Sugrue won the Castletroy Scratch Cup two weeks ago, before finishing in the top twenty in the Brabazon. Although he is in 5th place, he is eight shots off the lead held by England’s Matty Lamb after a super 63 today. Sugrue had a great run of four birdies in the middle of his round in the home of golf. It was part of a five bogies in six holes starting at the fifth. Sugrue had three birdies on the back nine but bogies on the 15th and 17th before a closing par would see him sign for a four under par 68. Sugrue is the second best placed Irish golfer, he’s one behind Caolan Continue reading
Munster Students win for Desmond
Monkstown’s Sean Desmond won the Munster Students title in Tipperary today, holding onto his second round lead. It was a steady round for Desmond, on hiw way to a first championship win. A birdie on the fourth put him into the red on -1 for the tournament, but he bogied the next hole to go back to level par. Another bogey followed on the 10th but that was the last error and the Monkstown man parred his way back to the clubhouse to finish on +1 for the tournament. Paul Conroy (Enniscorthy) took second place after a closing 72, two shots behind on +3 while Tom Dowdall (Woodbrook) took third place on +6. Maynooth A, represented by Darragh Flynn, Aaron Ryan and Robert Abernethy won the team prize.
Gary Ward was the next best Cork player, he was tenth while Paul Tobin and Mark Healy both finished in the top twenty. Desmond now adds his name Continue reading
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