Mel Deasy (Bantry Bay) pictured with the Munster Under 15 Close trophy after winning the title in Roscrea.
Picture: Niall O’Shea
Mel Deasy scooped his first Munster title today when he won the Munster Under 15 Close title in Roscrea. The Cork man shot a one over par 72, three early birdies saw him reach -2 two at one stage but two late bogies meant he finished on +1. The bogies didn’t hurt Deasy as he had a four shot margin over second placed Alex Dineen from Cork. It was an all Cork podium as Jack Murphy (Douglas) took third place, after a countback with Dineen.
Rory Milne (Faithlegg) retained the Munster Boys Under 17 title after shooting a fine three under par 68. The Waterford golfer won the event last year in Kinsale and becomes the first golfer to win the age-grade event twice. Milne turned on level par but blazed through the back nine with three birdies in four holes. Milne parred his Continue reading
Kinsale’s John Murphy was named on the three man Irish team to play in the World Amateur Team Championship in Carton House next month. Murphy is joined by Tramore’s Robin Dawson and Portmarnock’s Conor Purcell. The team, which is captained by Bandon’s John Carroll will play in the Eisenhower Trophy which is played over four rounds starting on Wednesday 5th September. Dawson, who is ranked number six in the world rankings, secured his place as the top Irish golfer in the WAGR rankings, the Tramore man played on the Irish team in European Championships last month and won the Irish Amateur Open in Royal County Down at the start of the season and he was runner up at the Amateur Championship last month. Murphy and Purcell were both selected on their form this season, it’s Purcell’s second year on the Irish Mens team, a former junior tennis champions he recorded five top ten finished this year is addition to reaching the semi-final at the AIG Irish Close this week.
By any measure, Roy Clarke has had an interesting few years working in golf. Working for Trackman, the leading shot analysis system is a pretty cool job but it’s not even the most interesting job he’s had. Roy spent several years caddying on the LPGA tour, helping some of the biggest stars in the top ladies tour in the world. He’s now working with Trackman, the leading analysis tool used by professionals worldwide. Working off-course in the golf industry is limited to a small number of people and Roy covers all of Ireland and northern England in his current role. Like many golfers, it all started for Roy when he was young and he got his first taste for the game. “I started playing at 12, the folks bought me a full set of clubs from lifestyle sports worth €100 and a membership to Mahon Golf Club as a surprise one Christmas” said Roy. I couldn’t just look at them so I begged my mother to bring me down after the dinner. I was the only one out on the course. I’m sure it was closed, it was lashing, and I didn’t even know the rules. I played 36 holes a day once the summer hit, and I was golfing at a very good level by 18, playing off scratch.” It was clear that he was almost obsessive about the sport. A summer trip to the US would lead to the first stage of his golfing career. “I just had a love affair with golf and always knew it would be the industry I would work in” he continued. “The jigs and the reels would lead me to Bighorn Golf Club, Palm Springs for a 
Cork interest in the AIG Irish Close finished today as James Sugrue and Peter O’Keeffe lost in the third and fourth rounds respectively. Sugrue was up against Conor Purcell and the match went all the way to the 20th hole before it was settled. Unlike the result of extra holes in Lahinch, Sugrue came out on the wrong side when the match finished on the 2nd hole. Purcell went on to beat Eugene Smith this afternoon and will face Eoin Leonard in tomorrow’s semi-final.
Although it’s normally busy spot, Castlemartyr will be fully booked this weekend for their annual scratch cup weekend. With over 300 golfers already booked in for the three days, this weekend promises to be as busy as the previous August Bank Holidays for Castlemartyr. At a time when members competitions might be quieter, Castlemartyr started their scratch cup weekend eight years ago and it has gone on to become a central part of the calendar for many golfers. There are three competitions in all, Junior (4-11), Intermediate (12-18) and Minor (19+) and all run over the three days. The event is again sponsored by McCarthy Insurance Group and the entry fee is €35 per person. It has been a busy year for the golf side of Castlemartyr. Membership has again grown and they now have over 400 golfers in the three categories of membership. The mens club saw a big increase at the start of 2017 and they have 
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