Neither James Sugrue or John Murphy managed to overcome Neil McKinstry’s lead in the Irish Youths yesterday although they both finished inside the top ten. Murphy was in second place, two shots off the lead going into the final round and Sugure was just one shot behind Murphy.
Sugrue got off to a great start with a birdie on the opening hole but bogies on 4,5 and 6 meant that he dropped back and wasn’t able to put pressure on the leaders. The par 70 course had a CSS in round three of 73, indicating the difficulty in scoring for all golfers. None of the 100 golfers playing were able to match par with only seven golfers returning 71. Murphy had a tough start to the day, he was in the final group with leader Neil McKinstry. Murphy had a double bogey on the 2nd, and Continue reading
Kinsale’s John Murphy shot the low round of the day in Galway today to move into second place at the Irish Youths. Murphy shot a one under par 69 to see him finish on level par after 36 holes, and two off the lead held by Neil McKinstry. Murphy had plenty of colour on his card with four bogies and five birdies, but it was enough to jump him 10 spots up the leaderboard. Munster’s Robin Dawson also matched Murphy’s 69 and he’s one shot back on +1. Mallow’s James Sugrue is also within touch of the lead, he added a 73 to his opening 68 and is tied with Dawson on +1 in 4th place. Darragh O’Connor (Fota Island) added another 72 and he’s in 14th place, six shots off the lead. Cathal Butler (39th) is currently 10 shots off the lead and 
It’s been 30 years since anyone has managed to win back to back titles, and today John Murphy waited until the 19th hole to grasp back the trophy that he proudly won last year.
Holder John Murphy will face last year’s semi-finalist Sean Desmond in an all Cork semi-final at the Kerry Boys in Ballybunion. The Kinsale and Monkstown golfers extended their stay in Ballybunion as they both won two rounds of matchplay golf today on the Cashen course. Brian O’Connell and Eric Rumley lost out in this morning’s first round while Mark Healy got through the the quarter final. Healy lost out this afternoon after a close match with Nenagh’s Scott O’Brien. O’Brien will face home place Ronan Cross in the other semi-final. There was little joy for Cork golfer in the plate, Charleville’s Cathal O’Carroll is the only remaining Cork representative.
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