Monkstown’s Cian McNamara pictured at his custom fitting bay at the range in Monkstown Golf Club. Picture: Niall O’Shea
Cian McNamara booked his place in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open this week with a dramatic playoff win this evening in Rosapenna. The Monkstown professional was tied for fourth place after the opening round, and at the end of 36 holes he was tied with tour professional Kevin Phelan for the fourth and final qualifying place. It was the Limerick native who won through in the play-off. After halving the first playoff hole, Phelan’s approach to the second found the rough and two putts meant that he carded a five. McNamara was on in two with around 30 feet for birdie. He rolled his birdie putt up to less than two feet and tapped in the par to win the final place. He now faces a tough decision on whether to travel to St Anne’s Old Links on Tuesday for final qualifying for the Open Championship in what’s sure to be a busy week.
Simon Thornton won the event and claimed the top prize of €6,000 a well as a Continue reading
There was great news in Kinsale Golf Club earlier this week when John Murphy became the latest Corkman to earn full Irish honours. He has been selected in the six-man Irish team to compete in the European Amateur Team Championship in Germany in two weeks’ time. Murphy was almost a certain pick given his recent form. He won the St Andrews Links Trophy earlier this month, and last week he reached the quarter-finals of The Amateur Championship in Royal Aberdeen.
Cian McNamara and James Sugrue have a solid chance of making the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open after the opening round of the Rosapenna qualifier. McNamara shot a three under par round of 69 to lie in 4th place at the halfway stage. After a bogey on the 5th he came back in four under par, with a final birdie on the 17th to get himself back into contention. James Sugrue is two shots back on -1, and currently in 10th place. Sugrue had an interesting round, made up of seven birdies and six bodies. irrespective of what happens tomorrow both golfers will travel to the UK from Donegal to take part in final qualifying for the British Open.
Eoghan Cassidy become the latest Kinsale winner, the teenager won the Connacht Boys U14 Championship in Loughrea today. Cassidy shot a 75 to tie the lead, winning the title on the countback. The five handicapper has shown plenty of promise, the fact that he’s still eligible at U13 level underlines his achievement today. Cassidy’s best previous finish was third in the Munster Under 14 Boys Championship, held in Kanturk last year.
While there are thousands of Cork people who have just completed exams, it was a different time for Davey Barry as he got word that he had passed his final PGA exams, meaning he has now a qualified teaching professional. The Douglas based Pro had been working hard for the past three years, combining work in the pro shop with his studies, but Davey is delighted that he now joins the PGA as a full member. “It’s fantastic to have finished the course. It’s a lot of work and long hours but it’s a great feeling to have gotten here” said Davey. “It was a long journey for me, I had to do some extra exams before I started the course, it was well worth it though. This is something that I’ve always wanted to do since I was young, and it’s a career that can 
Mallow’s James Sugrue has an opportunity to qualify for the British Open in Carnoustie, he booked his place in final qualifying for the British Open today when he shot an eight under par 64 in Baltray to lead the regional qualifying event. Sugrue started with two birdies and he as four under at the turn. Not content with that he birdied 11, 12 and 16, and he closed with another birdie on the par five 18th in a flawless round. With fellow Mallow Senior Cup golfer Conor Dowling on the bag with him, Sugrue beat the field by four shots to claim the first of seven final qualifying spots available. It was a consolation of sorts for Sugrue, he narrowly missed on selection for the Irish team to compete in the European Championships in two weeks’ time. In any case, he’ll now be playing in the 
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