PGA

Pro-Am Delight for Amateurs

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Pro-Am Delight for Amateurs

Golf_Irish Open_ProAM1_Oisin Hassett_Wed 18th

Oisin Hassett putting on the 18th in Fota under the eye of Thomas Levet

Almost 150 amateur golfers got a chance to tee it up with tour professionals yesterday as the Irish Open Pro-Am took place in Fota.  Play got underway at 7.50am and even at that stage the sun was out and temperatures were hitting 20 degrees.  The attendance at the pro-am was an estimated 7,000 spectators which ranks highly on the European Tour schedule.  The majority of places in the pro-am are reserved for the event sponsors but there were a few golfers that secured their place thanks to qualifying competitions. Continue reading →

Derek Delivers the Winning Clubs for the Tour Stars

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Derek Delivers the Winning Clubs for the Tour Stars

Golf_Irish Open_Derek Murray_June2014
By Niall O’Shea

Many golfers are known for an almost unhealthy obsession with equipment.   From drivers to wedges and putters, from shafts to grips, golfers are always interested in the latest developments and technology, anything that will help their game.  While the majority of spectators in Fota this week will have their eyes on the course, a few will spend some time on the range watching the golfers and their equipment.  The tour trucks will be in Fota too, providing technical assistance, replacement equipment and minor or major adjustments for anyone of the 156 professional golfers needing a last minute fix.  With a total of €2m on offer in Continue reading →

Monkstown’s McNamara has second bite at the Irish Open

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Monkstown’s McNamara has second bite at the Irish Open

Golf_Cian McNamara_Monkstown GC_June2014

By Niall O’Shea

A year ago Cian McNamara was facing a daunting trip to Carton House for his first appearance in the Irish Open.  12 months later the Monkstown PGA professional is relishing a return to the event that saw make headlines with four under par first round.  Naturally McNamara is delighted to be back playing in the big time, the Limerick man qualified last year thanks to his top eight finish on the PGA Ireland Order of Merit, and a similar finish in 2013 saw another invitation being issued. Continue reading →

Wayne heading for the US Masters of Junior Golf

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Wayne heading for the US Masters of Junior Golf

Golf_Wayne Whitley O'Callaghan_Jun2014

By Niall O’Shea

Nine year old Wayne Whitley O’Callaghan is about to take on the golfing world.  He’s heading to the US where he has qualified for two international junior golf events.  Wayne will be Ireland’s only representative at the World Masters of Junior Golf in Las Vegas in July and in September he has a date in Pinehurst for the US Kids Finals.  Wins in the Irish Junior Golf Tour last year saw Wayne qualify for Las Vegas, he won events in Munster, Ulster and Leinster in the under 8 category.  A few weeks ago Wayne won again in Dungarvan, this time in a US Kids qualifier and went forward to the Irish finals in Portmarnock Links.  The final was over nine holes and Wayne went around the shortened course in 40 strokes.  The nine year old was two shots off the lead playing the last but a great tee shot on the 114 yard hole saw his ball finish just 10 feet from the hole.  He made to putt to tie the lead and went on to win on the countback. Continue reading →

Mardyke Arena to Host Golf Seminars

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As the build up to the Irish Open continues, Cork’s Mardyke Arena have announced two golf seminars that will take place in June.  On Tuesday 17th June the Arena will host a conference focused on fitness in golf, and a large number of amateurs, professionals and coaches are expected to attend.  The seminar is being run by the newly formed Confederation of Golf in Ireland (CGI), the European Tour Performance Institute and the Mardyke Arena UCC.  The CGI is a new body made up from the GUI, ILGU and the PGA.  Junior Golf Ireland has been subsumed into the new umbrella body and their key objectives include increasing participation and driving elite performance in both amateur and professional codes. Continue reading →

Shane Lowry looking forward to return to Cork

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Shane Lowry looking forward to return to Cork

By Niall O’Shea

 

GOLF_Lee Valley_Senior Scratch Cup_Shane Lowry_APR2009

 Shane Lowry winning the Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup in 2009

Former Irish Open Champion Shane Lowry is looking forward to returning to Cork next month as Fota Island plays host to the Irish Open.  Lowry won on his last two occasions playing competitive golf in Cork.  In 2007 he won the Irish Close at Cork Golf Club, beating local hope Niall Turner.  In 2009 he won the Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup, the first year it had been expanded to a 54 hole competition.  The Lee Valley was Lowry’s final won as an amateur in an amateur competition. Continue reading →

O’Donovan’s China Challenge

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Bandon’s Brian O’Donovan is a busy man, building his career in China.  Having moved there a few months ago he popped up on the PGA Tour China last weekend.  The competition was the Buick Open, and  Brian made the entry list thanks to a qualifier earlier in the week.  He travelled from his base in Shenzhen to Guangdong to try his hand on the Asian arm of the PGA Tour. Continue reading →

Promising Start for Cork Professionals, PGA Irish Region

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Promising Start for Cork Professionals

By Niall O’Shea

The PGA Irish Region kicked off their 2014 Pro-Am schedule today with Greystones hosting the first pro-am of the year.  Monkstown’s Cian McNamara was one of the early starters and he posted a two under par 67 to take the club house lead. Despite posting a bogey on the 4th hole, McNamara recovered immediately with a birdie.  He added further birdies on the 9th and 12th, and parred his way home to become the clubhouse leader.  He was ultimately beaten by Danny Sugrue and John Kelly, both golfers returned 66’s from their afternoon rounds. Continue reading →

Con on the Course – Fota Island Irish Open

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Con is in Charge in Fota

Fota Island_Con O'Driscoll_Apr2014

By Niall O’Shea

Walking around the Fota Island Resort this week, you’d be mistaken for thinking it’s just another year at the prestigious Cork golf course,  The pro-shop is busy, as is the clubhouse, a society prepares to head out and there’s about six people practicing in the Academy.  All in all it’s pretty standard for the championship resort.  But Fota is right in the middle of preparations for the Irish Open which take place from 18th to 22nd June.  While it’s business as usual as far as any of the golfers are concerned, the course staff are busy working with a plan to deliver the course in perfect condition for the tour professionals in June.  It’s 12 years since the European Tour event last took place in Cork and for many of the professionals that were in tour in 2002, they’ll notice a few additions.  While the Deerpark course is still the same, the hotel and lodges are new, the additional nine holes are new and the Academy is now.  All of the developments were opened between 2006 and 2007 and now Fota Island stands out as the premier golf resort in the south of the country. Continue reading →

O’Callaghan wins in Monkstown

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Golf_Morgan O'Donovan Trophy_Wayne O'Callaghan_Mar2014

Wayne O’Callaghan continued his great record in Monkstown Golf Club on Monday when he won the Morgan O’Donovan Trophy.  The event was the final competition of the Munster PGA winter series and it was the second time that PGA members played to remember their colleague. In 2013, Peter O’Keeffe and Damien McGrane tied to take the title and O’Callaghan was extremely happy to add his name to the commemorative trophy; “this trophy meant a lot as I was great friends with Morgan since we both played boys golf together.  I would put it up with my win at the Irish Assistants championship 1997”.  The busy teaching professional who runs his Academy from Fernhill Golf Club has four Monkstown Pro-Am titles to his name.  However in spite of his great record he must have been worried as he carded a 7 on the par 4 final hole.  O’Callaghan had done enough though, four birdies and a bogey on the front nine saw him take a lead and he added another birdie on the 15th before finding trouble on the 18th.  It was still good enough to Continue reading →