Golf Ireland

Howard earns Ireland call up following South performance

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

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 →

Clodagh Coughlan wins Ulster title

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Clodagh Coughlan (Douglas) with the Ulster Senior Championship trophy at Belvoir Park
Photo: Leah Scholes/INPHO

Clodagh Coughlan was crowned Ulster Women’s Senior Champion in Belvoir Park on Sunday.  Originally scheduled as a 36 hole competition, the searing temperatures meant the Senior tournament was reduced to one round on Sunday.  It was Coughlan who coped best in the heat to claim her first title at national level.  The Douglas golfer has been challenging at all levels for the past few years evidenced by her selection for Munster and Irish teams.  Coughlan has seen plenty of success including winning the Plate compe Continue reading →

Strong Performance from Howard in Seapoint

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

David Howard

David Howard put another good top level performance in the bank last week with a top ten finish in the Flogas Irish Amateur at Seapoint.  The Fota Island golfer has been in good form this year and his -10 score for four rounds at the Co Louth links included rounds of 70, 68, 72 and a final round 68.

Although he was five shots off the winner, Howard had an impressive haul of 20 birdies which highlights how effective his tee to green game is.  Howard played almost all of the Irish Championships and his efforts were rewarded Continue reading →

Doyle Conquers Cork Again

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John Doyle conquered Cork Golf Club for the second time in two weeks as he came from behind to win the C2O Group sponsored Munster Stroke Play.  Fresh from his win at the Irish Boys, Doyle is now two from two in Little Island.

It was a super weekend for golf in Cork, a strong field took on the Alister MacKenzie signature course which was in great condition.  The 75 strong field including West of Ireland Champion Dylan Holmes (Greystones), Flogas Irish Boys’ Amateur Open Champion John Doyle (Fota Island) and the recently returning Stuart Grehan (Co. Louth).  Holder Paul Coughlan and previous winners Karl Bornemann and Barry Anderson were also in the field.

John Doyle (Fota Island) receiving the Munster Stroke Play trophy from Paul Buckley from C2O Group, sponsors of the tournament.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

From the initial field at the Little Island course on Saturday, just 33 remained by Sunday morning and it was an ever changing leaderboard.  Cork’s Jonathan O’Sullivan led after the opening round with an impressive 69 in windy conditions.  By Saturday afternoon there was a three way tie for the lead, Keith Egan TJ Ford and James O’Rourke were out in front.  Egan in particular impressed with a five under par 67 after a great display of putting.

In the final round it was the 17-year-old Mitchelstown native who would battle his way to the top, taking a one-shot victory in what would be one of the tightest finishes the championship had seen for many years.

Doyle would finish his third-round level par for the tournament, rounds of 72, 71 and 73 leaving him in a Continue reading →

McGrath wins Munster Championship

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Macroom’s Bernie McGrath won the Munster Women’s Senior Championship in Shannon last week.  McGrath scored 42 points to finish two clear of the field.  The 16 handicapper went out with 22 points, thanks in part to two four pointers on the 4th and 5th holes.  McGrath had another two 4 pointers on the back nine that helped her to a back nine score of 20 points.  She had just two one pointers in the 18 holes which help her to the winning score.  Sylvie Kenneally from Kinsale was second on 40 points and Shannon’s Jean Murphy was third with 38 points.  Rose Beamish from Fota Island took the over 65 prize with 37 points.

Douglas golfer Shannon Burke got her 2025 season underway in Continue reading →

Handicaps Changes for 2025

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As we head towards the start of April, many golfers will be welcoming the harder ground – and the return of counting competitions.  Winter golf in almost all courses has been non-counting for handicap purposes and golfer may see a change in their playing handicap once counting competitions return next month.

While a golfer’s handicap index is tied to their playing record, the playing handicap is determined by the difficulty of the course and the allowance provided in the competition.  For the past four years, the allowance for a singles competition was set at 95%, but clubs will now have the option to change the allowance.  In singles counting competitions, the current 95% allowance for Playing Handicaps can be increased to 100%, or it can be Continue reading →

Cope Alliance has another bumper year

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The Cope Golf Alliance recently celebrated another great year when they presented a cheque for over €40,000 to Cope Foundation following their 2024 season.  The full amount was €41,500 and that means in the past 48 years the Alliance has raised over €1.7million for one of Cork’s favourite charities.

Cope Foundation, which recently changed it’s name to Horizons has provided support to people with an intellectual disability or autism, and currently supports over 2,800 people.  The charity has an annual fundraising target of over €1m so the contribution from golf alliance each year is a source the charity can depend on.

There are close to 500 members of the Alliance and membership is Continue reading →

Exciting 2025 ahead for Cork Golf

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Cork Golf Club which wil host a number of national events in 2025. Pic: Niall O’Shea

2025 promises to be a busy and exciting year for Cork golfers and Cork golf clubs.  Golf Ireland launched the 2025 calendar recently and four Cork courses will host important events in the months ahead.

Cork Golf Club will host four major events in a busy year for the club.  In addition to the Munster Stroke Play which has been held on the May Bank Holiday weekend for over a decade, the Little Island club will also host the Flogas Irish Boys Amateur Open and the Boys Home Internationals.  The club will also host the Women’s Cork Scratch Cup in early April.

Cork has a habit of being a winning venue for golfers who went on to greatness and with Irish Boys Captain watching over the field, he will be hoping for another winner with star potential when it comes to the Irish Boys.  The last big winner in Cork was Shane Lowry, he  won the Irish Close Championship when it was last held in Cork in 2007.  Lowry beat local favourite Niall Turner in the final to claim his first Irish title.  He went on to win the West and North, and the Mullingar Scratch Cup the following year, before winning the Continue reading →

Sherwood & Eivers lead Munster PGA

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The Munster PGA held the third outing of their winter series last week, and there was another two way tie at the top in Douglas with Brady Sherwood and Paul Eivers both returning an impressive score of 43 points.  David Ryan continued his good form with 42 points to take third place and host Pro David Barry was next with 41 points.  There was a three way tie for fifth place with Padraig Dooley, Fraser Thompson and Gavin Young.  Close to 30 professionals played in the event.

It was the second event to take place in November, with Cork Golf Club hosting an event at the start of the month.  Home favourite John Hickey came out on top that day with a score of 41 points to finish Continue reading →