Cork Golf

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 →

Blarney Senior Scratch Cup set for Saturday

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There’s less than a week to go to Blarney’s second senior scratch cup and it’s looking like it will be another great event.  The field is almost full but anyone interested in playing has until Wednesday to contact the club to enter.

Darren Kelleher is one of the organisers and he’s really looking forward to the event that remembers one of Blarney’s leading members.  “The scratch cup is called after our past member Mr Christy Horgan. Christy was a brilliant clubman and he was always there to help others. The scratch cup is a 36 hole event with refreshments after 18.  The prize money is exceptionally good for amateur golf in Ireland and we are nearly full with just a few spaces left.”

“Last year was our first year having our first senior scratch cup in Blarney, all the players that took Continue reading →

Howard earns Ireland call up following South performance

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David Howard had another good week on Golf Ireland’s Bridgestone Tour.  He reached the final 16 of the South of Ireland on Saturday, and in doing he looks to have earned selection on the Irish team for the upcoming Home Internationals.

Howard, who won his first major event in Baltray last month at the East of Ireland, backed up his impressive stroke play performance with six positive rounds in Lahinch.  The 26 year old opened with a lack lustre 75, the three over par round put him outside the top 80 with a second 18 holes to come.  The round could have been worse – after 10 holes Howard was five over but two late birdies gave him something to fight for.

Howard returned on Thursday afternoon and things didn’t improve when he was one over after nine.  The back nine again proved critical as Continue reading →

Kinsale delivers for Irish Seniors Championships

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Kinsale Captain Gavin Farrissey pictured with club officers and the winners from the Irish Seniors Championships.
Picture: Kinsale Golf Club.

Kinsale Golf Club hosted two major competitions last week and the mature parkland course at Farrangalway was in pristine condition for the Irish Seniors Championships.  Close to 150 Ladies and Men teed it up on over three days.  Kinsale was in great condition for the event, it was clear that the greenkeeping team had left nothing to chance as plenty of competitors commented on the quality of the course and in particular the greens.

The only negative to the week was that there wasn’t a home winner.  Shane Kenneally was the holder coming into the event but couldn’t match last year’s feat.  He battled all the way and finished in 17th place.  Fellow Kinsale golfer Kieran McCarthy was also in the mix, trading shots with Bandon’s Dave McCarthy in the final round.  The Bandon golfer shot a Continue reading →