ILGU

Clancy Wins Munster Senior Open Championship

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com
Valerie Clancy

Valerie Clancy

Valerie Clancy from Mitchelstown won the ILGU Munster Senior Open in Waterville today after poor weather forced the cancellation of the final round.  Clancy led the field by five strokes after the first two rounds.  She had played seven holes today before organisers were forced to halt the third round as high winds made the course unplayable.  The Killarney member shot the low round of the day yesterday (74) to maintain her lead from the first round.  She was the only golfer to break 80 on Wednesday as she recorded a 77 in very testing conditions at the Continue reading →

Brid Cronin (Fota Island) through to Q/F in Waterville

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Brid Cronin (Fota Island) is the last remaining Cork golfer in the ILGU Munster Junior Open at Waterville.  Cronin will face Christine Carroll tomorrow morning in the quarter final.

Catherine Kavanagh (Mitchelstown), Fidelma O’Connor (Kanturk) and Mary Bergin (Monkstown) lost their secound round matches this afternoon.  Mary Crowley (Skibbereen), Geraldine Walley (Cork) and Marie O’Driscoll (Fota Island) all lost out in the first matchplay round this morning.

2016 Munster Junior Open Championship – Matchplay

Jemma Barry from Douglas was runner up in the Stableford P Continue reading →

Irish Team Selection for Sara Byrne (Douglas GC)

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com
Sara Byrne

Sara Byrne (Douglas) in action for Munster in Wexford GC

14 year old Sara Byrne from Douglas has got a call up to the Irish Girls Under 16 team that will play Wales in Cardigan Golf Club at the end of this month.

The Douglas golfer had a great run last year, claiming a place on the Munster Girls Under 18 team despite being just 13 at the time.  She was a key part of the Douglas Senior Cup team winning five out of six of her matches.  The talented teenager had a good start to the 2016 season, last weekend she finished in the top 15 in the famous Carlow Scratch Cup.

ILGU Coaching Systems Manager Gillian O’Leary, formerly of Cork Golf Club will be one of the three coaches travelling with the teams.  The matches will be played on Tuesday 29th March and the format will include singles and foursomes.

The Under 16 and Under 14 teams were Continue reading →

Weather Continues to Disrupt Golfing Plans

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Course ClosedThe last nine weeks have been challenging for Cork’s golfing community, to borrow a phrase from Muskerry, it started with Abigail and continues with Imogen.  The past two months have been unprecedented in terms of the disruption caused by the weather.  While a bit of frost and even snow might be expected, the volumes of rainfall have effectively shut down the business of golf across the county and beyond.  While course and clubhouse damage has been minimal, the disruption has been severe.  Courses, bars and restaurants and pro-shops have all been affected, with courses in particular seeing footfall drop to close to zero since November.  Muskerry is a case in point, the ladies club has completed just one competition since November with eight consecutive cancellations since the start of December.  The Men’s club in Muskerry hasn’t fared much better with seventeen competitions cancelled since November.  It’s not all bad news however as the club has succeeded in growing it’s Continue reading →

2015 Review of the Year – Part 3

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

July

There were four Cork golfers in action in the Inter-Provincials which took place in Donegal’s Rossapenna.  Gary O’Flaherty, John Hickey, Dave O’Donovan and Ian O’Rourke all played their part in a sprited defence of the title they won in 2014.  Munster started well in the first two days with wins over Connacht and Ulster, but they lost out in a winner takes all match with Leinster.

Philip Quinn (Douglas) teeing off the 18th during in Cork GC

Philip Quinn (Douglas) 

Philip Quinn (Douglas) had two dramatic finishing holes in the qualifier final of the AIG Junior Cup.  Douglas were looking like losing to Mahon but the experienced 5 handicapper won the 17th and 18th in Cork GC to overturn a deficit and secure the third and Continue reading →

AIG Challenge Cup Success for East Cork Ladies

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

East Cork came good in the final to claim the AIG Insurance Challenge Cup after an impressive display against Mount Juliet writes Brendan Coffey.  

Pic: Pat Cashman

Pic: Pat Cashman

Teenager Rachel Rea set the tone for the champions with a comprehensive 8&7 victory in the back match. Suzanne Hickey was almost as convincing during her 4&3 win against Niamh Strudwick and Rachel Sheehan took the top match 3&2 in what was a superb team performance.

“I can’t say enough to praise them, they were absolutely awesome,” said team captain Frances O’Brien, who was thrilled with her side’s success. “They were a very good opposition. Our girls really had to be at the top of their game to beat them today.”

Champions two years ago, this was a new team for East Cork and 17-year-old Rea had to take time out from her final year of secondary school to be in Knightsbrook this week.  “Rachel’s after taking time out from her Leaving Cert, her mother gave her permission,” O’Brien revealed. “I think for us it seemed as if it went right to the wire because you’re not in until you’re in. it was just magnificent. East Cork keeps producing players and it’s a very competitive club.”  O’Brien and her team headed home to Midleton in high spirits after another memorable success.

Guest leads Lee Valley to All Ireland Title – AIG Intermediate Cup

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com
Valerie Hassett (President, ILGU) with the Lee Valley Team winners of the Intermediate Cup at the 2015 AIG Ladies Cups and Shields Finals at Knightsbrook Golf Club today (25/09/2015) . Picture by Pat Cashman

Valerie Hassett (President, ILGU) with the Lee Valley Team winners of the Intermediate Cup at the 2015 AIG Ladies Cups and Shields Finals at Knightsbrook Golf Club today (25/09/2015) . Picture by Pat Cashman

Wearing spikes rather than studs, former Irish rugby international Laura Guest found success all the same as she guided Lee Valley to All-Ireland glory.  Guest retired from international rugby last year after a 14-year career in the Irish jersey but she was celebrating another famous victory on Friday night.  A Grand Slam winner with the Irish ladies in 2013, Guest got her hands on an All-Ireland medal in the AIG Intermediate Cup Final at Knightsbrook when Lee Valley beat Malahide in the final at Knightsbrook.  “It’s a bit different here,” said Guest. “I absolutely love the golf.  I’m just lucky that we were here and lucky that we played well. It’s only really this last year that I’ve spent a bit of time playing, I never really had time before.”  Helen Hodson and Catherine O’Sullivan had won their matches comfortably, leaving Lee Valley just one point from overall victory.  Guest had the title in her hands and when she completed a 3&1 victory on the 17th the cup was going back to Cork.  “I couldn’t look at anybody there the last three holes, I just needed to stay focused,” said Guest, who had played in three World Cups with Ireland during her rugby career. Continue reading →