Junior Golf

O’Connell & O’Riordan win Munster Boys Titles

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Bandon's Brian O'Connell pictured with the Munster Boys Under 17 Cup at Kanturk Golf Club. Picture: Niall O'Shea

Bandon’s Brian O’Connell pictured with the Munster Boys Under 17 Cup at Kanturk Golf Club.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Bandon’s Brian O’Connell shot an impressive two under par 69 to win the Munster Boys Under 17 Close at Kanturk Golf Club.  O’Connell, playing off a handicap of 5 returned the only under par score on the day got off to a great start.  He was three under at the turn after recording birdies at the 1st, 4th and 7th holes.  He added further birdies at the 13th and 15th but three bogies on the back nine saw his sign for a winning 69.  Second place went to Conor Slevin (5) from Charliville with a level par 71 and third place went to Andrew Mulhall (4) from Waterford Castle, also with a 71.

Gallery: Pictures from Munster U15 & U17 Close Championships

Jake O'Riordan (Dungarvan) pictured with the Munster Boys Under 15 Cup at Kanturk Golf Club. Picture: Niall O'Shea

Jake O’Riordan (Dungarvan) pictured with the Munster Boys Under 15 Cup at Kanturk Golf Club.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

The Munster Boys Under 15 Trophy went to Jake O’Riordan from Dungarvan Golf Club.  Jake had a birdie on the second hole but added four successive bogies from the 3rd to the 5th.  He recovered with a birdie on the 8th to turn on +2.  He had a very tidy back nine, eight pars and one birdie saw him finish on a one over par score of 72.  Mallow’s Ed Walsh (2) continued his good form with a 74 to take second place, and third place went to Stephen Ryan (10) from Roscrea who carded the best of three 75’s.

Kanturk Golf Club was in great condition for the prestigious junior golf event, with over 100 golfers from 40 Munster clubs taking part.  Kanturk Captain Jerry O’Keeffe thanked the Officers and staff of Munster Golf for allowing Kanturk to host the competition and thanked all of the club volunteers who worked through the long day.  Munster Branch Chairman Mr John Moloughney congratulated the winners and thanked everyone who was involved in making the day such a success.  He thanked the Officers, members and staff from Kanturk Golf Club who provided the course in great condition, and he also thanked the Munster Golf team of Tournament Director Sean O’Leary, referees Kevin Murray and Brian Hurley, and Junior Administrator Margaret Sugrue who was involved in the preparation of the championship since last October.

Prize winners from the Munster Under 17 and Under 15 Close Championship, pictured with John Moloughney, Chairman Munster Golf, Jerry O'Keeffe, Captain Kanturk Golf Club and Noel Hennessy, Junior Officer Kanturk Golf Club. Picture: Niall O'Shea

Prize winners from the Munster Under 17 and Under 15 Close Championship, pictured with John Moloughney, Chairman Munster Golf, Jerry O’Keeffe, Captain Kanturk Golf Club and Noel Hennessy, Junior Officer Kanturk Golf Club.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

The next junior championship is the Munster Boys Under 13 Close which takes place next week in Waterrock and Adare Manor.

Turner, Butler, Coyne, McKenna & Barry – Thursday Round-Up

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Two wins for Butler in Wales
Cathal Butler had two wins in Wales today as Ireland beat Wales to take third place at the Boys Home Internationals.  Butler partnered Devin Morley for the third day in the foursomes and the pair recorded their third win when they closed out their match on the 16th green.  Butler was back in singles action this afternoon and he again finished on the 16th with a 3&2 win over Wales Tom Davies.  Butler’s record for the 2015 Home Internationals will read as an impressive 4 points from a possible 5.  The Kinsale golfer will be back in action on Sunday when his club head for Golf Coast Golf Club for the Munster finals of the Fred Daly Trophy.

McKenna Makes the Cut in Coventry
Ciaran McKenna needed two birdies in his final three holes to make the cut at the Galvin Green PGA Assistants Championship in Coventry today.  McKenna was four over par after 15 and it looked like he was headed home.  Birdies on the 16th and 17th rescued his card and a par at a last saw him through right on the cut mark.  Davey Barry didn’t have the same luck, he couldn’t get his round together and finished well outside the cut.

Coyne out of Contention in Ulster Youths
Conor Coyne (Youghal) had a third round 75 to take him out of the reckoning at the Ulster Youths in Belvoir Park Golf Club.  Final scores for the fourth round are no available but Coyne was over ten shots off the lead going into the final round.

Turner Leads Northern Ireland Open
After a lengthy injury lay-off, Muskerry’s Niall Turner is back in form and hold a share of the lead in the Challenge Tour event in Galgorm Castle.  Turner shot a six under par 66 in his round this morning, including an impressive eagle 2 after driving the green on the par four second hole.  Turner has a lie in tomorrow as his second round won’t get underway until 2.20pm

Wednesday Round-Up: Butler, Barry, McKenna & Coyne in Action

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Ciaran McKenna is currently in the top 25 after the first round of the Galvin Green PGA Assistants Championship in Coventry Golf Club.  Mallow’s McKenna had a very tidy level par opening round, his only birdie of the day came on the par five 4th, but he had one bogey to balance that  on the 11th hole.  His level par 73 has him five shots Continue reading →

Monkstown lose out in Junior Foursomes Final

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Monkstown came up just short of winning a Munster pennant at the Irish Junior Foursomes yesterday.  Woodstock in Co Clare was the venue for the Munster finals and the Cork club beat Newcastlewest in an exciting semi-final match.  That led to an afternoon final against Ballbunion.  Unfortunately for Monkstown they were well beaten in the final, Sean Desmond and Cillian Desmond lost in the first match and Shane Livesey and Fionn Murray also lost in the second match.

>>>Irish Junior Foursomes (Munster) Results<<<

Ward Takes Second Place at Leinster Boys

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Gary Ward from Kinsale shot three under for his final 36 holes at the Leinster Boy’s today to claim second place.  Ward shot a 69 this morning to hold the 54 hole lead by two shots.  However a one over par 74 this afternoon meant that the Kinsale man had to settle for second place.  The winner was Michael Ryan from New Ross and his win was well deserved considering he shot -7 (68,69) on the final day in Balcarrick.

John Murphy was the one of three other Cork golfers to make the cut for the final 36 holes, he shot a positive two under 71 this morning but signed for a disappointing 77 this afternoon.  Murphy now looks like taking second place in the final national Order of Merit standings.  Mark Healy carded a 73,73 to maintain his place inside the top twenty and Muskerry’s Benedict Cronin finished in 42nd place from the field of 150 golfers.

>>Leinster Boys Final Standings<<

Murphy Leads Leinster Boys

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Kinsale's John Murphy in action in Monkstown recently. Picture: Niall O'Shea

Kinsale’s John Murphy in action in Monkstown recently.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Kinsale’s John Murphy stormed into the lead at the Leinster Boys Open in Balcarrick.  Murphy has consistently shown good form this season and was a surprise omission from the Irish Boys team announced yesterday, but he bounced back from the disappointment to shoot a two under par 71.

Murphy was actually Continue reading →