Winner of the South of Ireland Championships in Lahinch Golf Club, Clare , James Sugrue of Mallow Golf Club takes a moment with the trophy after his 3 and 2 victory over Conor O’Rourke of Naas Golf Club on Sunday evening.
Pic. Brian Arthur
James Sugrue wrote his name into the history books today, he captured the famous South of Ireland at Lahinch. The Mallow man joins Mervyn Owens and John McHenry as the only Cork winners in the past fifty years. Sugrue qualified in the top half of the draw after the 36 hole strokeplay phase, and came through two matches on Friday to reach the final 16. On Saturday he beat Gary O’Flaherty and John Murphy to set up a semi-final match with Peter O’Keeffe. In a tight match Sugrue beat O’Keeffe on the 17th, setting up a final against Conor O’Rourke Continue reading
Weather conditions in Lahinch were slightly better today as the opening two rounds of the matchplay got underway. After two rounds there are still five Cork golfers involved, with two all-Cork clashes set for tomorrow morning.
It isn’t too often that a scratch golfer would have six bogies and a double – and still be happy with his round. Well that’s exactly what happened Sean Desmond in Lahinch today. Playing is his first South of Ireland, the Monsktown teenager shot a 74 in very testing conditions. That 74 included four birdies and an eagle, which helped Desmond to bounce back from the bogies. He was actually one under after an eagle on the 5th and he finished the front nine on level par. That included a lost ball on the 7th which led to a double bogey. A birdie on the 12th saw Desmond back in the red but three consecutive bogies on 13, 14 and 15 saw him return to the black and sign for a two over par 74.
A dozen Cork golfers will be hoping to bridge a 13 year gap and win the South of Ireland Championship this week. Mallow’s Meryvn Owens was the last man to bring the famous trophy back to Cork in 2003, when he beat the holder Colm Moriarty on the 18th green in Lahinch. Cork winners have been few and far between, John McHenry won in 1986 and before that there’s a 22 year gap to W A Kelleher’s win. The statistics would suggest that a few more years should pass before the next Cork winner, but given the strength and depth of the Cork golfers competing this year, don’t rule out a good run from a few of the form golfers.
John Murphy had no joy in Portrush yesterday at the North of Ireland. Murphy was through to the last 16 but lost out in a tight match against Derek Downie. A disappointed Murphy headed back to Cork yesterday but one marginal benefit was a day off today as he prepares to join Kinsale’s challenge for the Barton Shield this weekend.
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