Cork Golf

5 Cork golfers named on Munster team for Interprovincial Championship

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James Sugrue_22

James Sugrue (Mallow) teeing of in the third round of the South of Ireland.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

James Sugrue and Peter O’Keeffe lead a five strong Cork contingent on the Munster team for the interprovincial championship later this month.   Cork GC duo John Hickey and Gary O’Flaherty along with Kinsale’s Cathal Butler make up the majority of the eight man team to play in Athenry.

Sugrue and O’Keeffe were assured of their places thanks to finishing in the top three on the Munster Order of Merit.  Both have recorded wins this year and they have also been playing well, reaching the latter stages of the South of Ireland and the AIG Irish Close.  Gary O’Flaherty retains his place and he’s be hoping to add to the six wins that he’s racked up since his first appearance in 1996.  John Hickey and Cathal Butler return to the side after missing out last year, they both played in Fota Island in 2016.

Geoff Lenehan, Andrew McCormack and Eanna Griffin also retain their places from last year in what is a very experienced side.  There are two notable absentees though Continue reading →

Byrne & Clancy through in Girls Amateur, Kerry Boys Update

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Sara Byrne IRish Close Course Shot June 2018

Sara Byrne (Douglas) during the Irish Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship, Enniscrone Golf Club, Picture: Golffile | Fran Caffrey All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit (© Golffile | Fran Caffrey)

Sara Byrne and Valerie Clancy have made it through to the matchplay stage of the Girls Amateur Open in Ardglass.  Byrne continued her good form on Tuesday with an opening 71 that saw her finish the first round in 6th place.  She finished the second round tied for 12th place, a second round 75 in more testing conditions was more than enough to see her through, although she did describe it as “hanging on”. Valerie Clancy also made it through in the top half of the draw, steady rounds of 73 and 76 saw her finish tied for 19th place from the field of 140 golfers.  Ireland will be well represented in the matchplay with a total of seven golfers qualifying.  The first two rounds take place today.

Fionn Hickey (Muskerry), Jack O’Donoghue (Bandon) and Ross Higgins (Douglas) have all mande it through to the matchplay stage of the Kerry Boys Championship. Hickey finished third in the qualifier after rounds of 73 & 79, and he’ll face Ross Higgins in the first round.  Jack O’Donoghue will face Glasson’s Conor Gleeson who was the top qualifier on -3.  Cork is well represented in the plate with six Continue reading →

Fred’s new chapter at Muskerry

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Fred Twomey_Aug 2018_1Muskerry’s Fred Twomey celebrated another milestone on Saturday night, when the club marked the official opening of his new Pro Shop and Academy.  Fred was appointed as Club Professional in Muskerry earlier this year and the PGA Professional set about adding the final touches to the new academy and revamping the shop to mark his new role in the club.  The night coincided with John O’Riordan’s President’s Prize so there was a large crowd in attendance.  Fred had his good friend John Moloughney in Muskerry for the opening, John is the President of the GUI and would have been involved in many Munster teams with Fred over the past 15 years.  Fred started work on the academy last year, which consists of a covered bay and open range.  The three bay indoor academy features all of the latest training and teaching aids including Trackman for the best in shot analysis.  As the work on the academy was Continue reading →

Last Call for AIB Munster Mixed Foursomes, Muskerry Golf Club

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Skibbereen Munster Mixed Fours 2017

2017 winners Skibbereen’s Rhona O’Donoghue and John McNamara receiving the Munster Mixed Foursomes Cup from Jim Hornibrook, Captain Muskerry Golf Club.

Entries for the AIB Munster Mixed Foursomes at Muskerry are filling up, it takes place on Sunday 26th August.  The competition is open to all clubs in Munster, and has a new title sponsor in the form of AIB.  The holders are Skibbereen, Rhona O’Donoghue and John McNamara won last year.  The Munster Mixed Foursomes started in 1937 as the Munster Open Mixed Foursomes Cup.  It was originally played for during Open Week where after a qualifying round there were 16 qualifiers who played Matchplay in the evenings of Open week.  The original cup is still presented to the winners and holds the names of many famous Munster golfers.  Previous winners include Jimmy Bruen, who partnered Miss G Horgan to win in 1940.  Miss M Rehehan was a three-time winner of the event, she first won it in 1944 and repeated the feat in 1954.  In 1955 she won it again and went on to marry her 1955 playing partner, Loyal Goulding of Cork Golf Club.  In 1988 The Irish Examiner took over sponsorship of the event and the competition changed to the current format where each club in Munster is invited to send a team to compete in the final.  AIB Bank have come on board as sponsors this year and over 30 clubs are expected to enter.  Any club who have not yet confirmed their place should contact Muskerry Golf Club without delay.

Scratch Cup Success for Castlemartyr

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CGL_10th Aug2018_1342Castlemartyr is generally a busy golf course, but over the August weekend that goes to a new level as the club hosts their annual scratch cup weekend.  It’s now a regular event on the Cork golfing calendar, having started seven years ago.  This year was no different, well apart from setting a new record of 428 entrants over the three days.  And while there can only be one winner of each of the three events, there were well over a dozen prize winners from the weekend.  The generous prize fund exceeded €2,000.  The three day event is a big undertaking for the club, and once again they came up trumps.  “The weekend was a great success, we had a record number of entrants” said Donal Golden, Captain of Castlemartyr.  “The weather was kind to us, with three days of ideal golfing conditions dry, warm and little or no wind.  Typically the Sunday afternoon of Continue reading →