Closing Date for Strokeplay approaching

The Cork Scratch Cup

The Cork Scratch Cup

The closing date for the Munster Strokeplay is fast approaching, with entries closing on Saturday evening.  The 72 hole event takes place over two days on the May Bank Holiday weekend, with the winner picking up the famous Cork Scratch Cup.  Although the event has been a Munster Championship for over a decade, the cup dates back to 1923 making it the oldest scratch cup in the country.  Already a number of the top Irish amateurs have entered and more will follow over the coming days.  Entries are limited to the lowest 75 golfers, with the top 39 golfers qualifying for the final two rounds.  The championship is again sponsored by Liam Ryan from Ryan’s SuperValu.  There’s just a few days left to enter, and the link Continue reading →

Deasy tops West of Ireland Qualifier

Munster Boys Under 16 Amateur Open 2018Newcastlewest Golf Club Thursday 21st August 2018

Mel Deasy

Mel Deasy launched his season in style today – with a three under par 68 to win the qualifier at the West of Ireland.  Mel, who is just 16, was in a field of 90 golfers hoping to claim one of the nine spots in the championship proper.  The Lee Valley golfer was off early this morning and made the most of the round.  Despite two birdies on his front nine, a double meant he turned on level par.  He came back in three under though with birdies on the 12th, 14th and 15th holes.  He was the only golfer to break par and finished three shots ahead of the field.  It was a 1-2 for Cork golfers, Cork’s Kieran Murphy finished as runner up on level par.  Murphy was a bit unfortunate, he was two under through 16 before he had a double on the 17th.  Still, he was safely through to Continue reading →

O’Keeffe wins Investec Muskerry SSC

Investec Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup Muskerry Golf Club Saturday 30th March 2019

Peter O’Keeffe in action in the Investec Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup today. Pic: Niall O’Shea

13 years after his first win, Peter O’Keeffe added a second Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup title to his growing haul of wins.  The Irish International led from the start, a five under par 66 this morning saw him set the tone and take a one shot lead into the second round.  A birdie on the second hole was struck out by a bogey on the 6th, but that would be his only mistake.  The Douglas golfer bounced back with an eagle on the next hole and a birdie on the 8th saw him turn on -3.  Two more birdies on the back nine gave him a one shot lead over James Sugrue.

Both Irish Internationals were level after the opening hole in the second round, but O’Keeffe kicked on with a birdie on the second and never looked back.  Sugrue bagged several birdies but balanced that with a handful of bogies that prevented him from catching his playing partner.  Cathal Butler continued his positive form with rounds of 69 & 70.  That was good enough for third place and valuable points on the Munster Order of Merit.  O’Keeffe also takes the lead in the Munster Order of Merit as a result of today’s win.

Gallery: Investec Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup 2019

Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup Presentation_1

Peter O’Keeffe (Douglas) receiving the Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup from Michael O’Connor (Investec). Also included are Marian Nugent (President) and Diarmuid Linehan (Captain), Muskerrry Golf Club.
Picture: Joe Lane

The story of the afternoon belonged to Kinsale’s Shane Kenneally.  He produced a best of the day round of 64 (-7).  Four birdies on the front nine, an eagle two on the 11th hole, and a birdie on the 18th saw him recover from an opening 77 to take 4th place overall.  Cork’s Gary O’Flaherty was 5th (141, -1) in his first competitive event of the season.  The nett prize went to Muskerry’s Zak Collins, a second round 70 saw him finish on -5 (nett).

Muskerry was in great condition for the showpiece event, the ground was a bit on the soft side but overall the course was great with the greens rolling nicely.  This marks the start of a busy few weeks for Cork’s top golfers.  While some will be heading for Co Sligo next week, both East Cork (Sat) and Fota Island (Sun) are holding Senior Scratch Cups.  The qualifiers for the Ford Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy also take place on Friday and Saturday next with times still available on both days.

Investec Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup 2019

136 Peter O’Keeffe (Douglas) 66 70
138 James Sugrue (Mallow) 67, 71
139 Cathal Butler (Kinsale) 69, 70
141 Shane Kenneally (Kinsale) 77, 64; Gary O’Flaherty (Cork) 72, 69; Jack Egan (Muskerry) 71,70
142 Sean Leonard (Mitchelstown) 71,71; Ian Bermingham (Douglas) 68,74
144 Andrew McCormack (Castletroy) 73,71; Philip Spratt (West Waterford) 71,73; David Fitzgerald (Tralee) 71,73; Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little) 70,74
145 Zak Collins (Muskerry) 75, 70; Fionn Hickey (Muskerry) 74,71; Noel McGee (Fota Island) 73,72;  Rory Fives (Faithlegg) 73,72; Paul Tobin (Douglas) 72,73
146 Ian Spillane (Killarney) 75,71; Rory Milne (Faithlegg) 71,75
147 Alan Moriarty (Macroom) 74, 73
CSS Round 1:71
CSS Round 2:71

Four Cork Golfers head for Sligo

Munster Boys Under 16 Amateur Open 2018Newcastlewest Golf Club Thursday 21st August 2018

Mel Deasy

The West of Ireland qualifier takes place on Sunday and four Cork golfers will be heading for Co Sligo with the hope of making the tournament proper.  Mel Deasy, now wearing Lee Valley colours will be hoping to make his first senior championship start while Kieran Murphy from Cork Golf Club will also challenge for one of the ten championship spots.  Kinsale have two representatives in the qualifier, Mark Healy and Eric Rumley.  They will be hoping to join the three Kinsale members already in the Championship field; Cathal Butler, Gary Ward and Keith Fitzpatrick.

West of Ireland Qualifier Tee Times

This week marks the start of a busy few weeks for Cork’s top golfers with six already confirmed for the West of Ireland.  Peter O’Keeffe (+3.7) and James Sugrue (+3.6) are both in the top ten of entries, the Irish squad members had some very impressive performances at national and international level in 2018 and both will be hoping to add another championship to their resume at the first opportunity this year.  Kinsale trio Cathal Butler, Gary Ward and Keith Fitzpatrick will be joined by Sean Desmond (Monkstown), Greg O’Mahony (Fota Island) and Padraig O’Connor (Macroom).  This year the event has a different format, the traditional 36/64 has been replaced by a 72 hole strokeplay event.  The reason behind the change is that Co Sligo is also hosting the Flogas Irish Amateur Open this year.  It’s the first time in 96 years that the event will not be run as a match play competition with a new date also adding to the changes.  With the Irish Open taking place in Mid May, the decision made to move the West from the traditional Easter date.  For anyone not heading to Sligo, the East Cork SSC takes place on Saturday 6th April.