Senior Scratch Cup

O’Keeffe retains Kerry Scratch Cup title

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Peter O'Keeffe Kerry Scratch Cup 2018

Peter O’Keeffe from Douglas being presented with the 113 year old Kerry Scratch up by Frank Hayes (Director of Corporate Affairs Kerry Group PLC) and Kevin McCarthy (Captain Tralee Golf Club). Photo by Domnick Walsh Eye Focus LTD

Peter O’Keeffe claimed his first win of the 2018 season when he successfully defended his Kerry Scratch Cup title in Tralee last weekend.  It was the perfect weekend for O’Keeffe as he fine-tuned his game in preparation for the Irish Amateur Open which started today.  O’Keeffe has been a big fan of the event in Tralee and having finished second in 2016, he won the event last year.  The Douglas man held the overnight lead after 36 holes.  He was tied with Monkstown’s Sean Desmond who Continue reading →

Fahy wins Munster Strokeplay

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Munster Strokeplay ChampionshipCork Golf Club Sunday 6th May 2018

Dun Laoghaire’s Alan Fahy who won the Munster Strokeplay Championship at Cork Golf Club. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Leinster’s dominance of the Munster Strokeplay continued yesterday when Dun Laoghaire‘s Alan Fahy became the fifth winner from the province in seven years.  Claiming his first senior championship win, he had a very impressive second day in Cork, he was eight under for his final 36 holes.  That helped him overturn a four shot deficit, and that was enough to hive him a two stroke win.  Fahy shot an excellent 66 on Sunday morning to tie for the lead with halfway leader Robbie Cannon, and he was still level with the Balbriggan man after the final front nine.  Although Fahy birdied the 16th, he felt he need more and was disappointed when a good putt on the 17th shaved the hole.  With one chance remaining, the 20 year old Maynooth University student drilled his tee shot on the 18th, and he followed that with a superb 8 iron from 140 yards which finished five feet from the hole.  A firm uphill putt hit the centre of the hole and he carded Continue reading →

The Famous Cork Scratch Cup

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Munster Strokeplay Championship, Munster Golf, Cork Golf Club, Sunday 30th April 2017

2017 winner Barry Anderson with the Cork Scratch Cup

Many people will know that this weekend’s competition is called the Munster Strokeplay, but not everyone will know that when the event was given Championship status it had the additional designation of “incorporating the Cork Scratch Cup”.  The Cork Scratch Cup is one of the oldest trophies in Irish golf and according to Cork’s GM Matt Sands, it the original cup that was awarded over 90 years ago.  The cup dates from 1923 and it holds the names of the all of the winners.

The trophy was presented by William Dwyer, a man and a family that are synonymous with Cork Golf Club, and the same person who started the inter-society competition which still runs today.  Dwyer presented the trophy in 1923 and won it in himself in 1924.  The trophy bears the names of the great Cork Golf Club stalwarts, Crosbie, Simcox, Bruen and Higgins are all represented, with Jimmy Bruen claiming four consecutive titles from 1938-1941.  There was a gap of four years during the war and Redmond Simcox won his fourth title in 1947 when the competition resumed.  Simcox was one of three golfers Continue reading →

Win No 3 for O’Flaherty in Lee Valley

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Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup 2018, Lee Valley Golf Club. Final Round, Saturday 22nd April 2018

Gary O’Flaherty, winner of the Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup for the third time. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Gary O’Flaherty claimed his third Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup title today when he shot a steady level par round to maintain his lead and take the title.  Starting with a two shot lead, many would have thought O’Flaherty would have needed a 70 or better.  But the weather conditions in Lee Valley hampered everyone, and while the course was in great condition the harsh wind played a big role.  Gary’s lead went to three after the second hole when Ronan Mullarney bogied, and he maintained that cushion through the remainder of the front nine.  A bogey on the 7th was followed by a birdie on the par five 8th hole, and he turned a three shot lead.  Tiarnan McLarnon was one of the early starters, he went around in 70 (-2) which would see him claim second place.  The back nine proved a challenge for most with all of the leaders bar O’Flaherty dropping shots.

Gallery: Lee Valley Senior Scratch 2018 R3(2)

The results told a story about the conditions, of the later starters O’Flaherty was the only golfer to match par.  Ian O’Rourke also shot a 72 while James Sugrue and Keith Crowley both signed for 73’s.  Given the quality of the chasing pack it was thought there would have been a low score, but it never happened and O’Flaherty became the first person to win back to back titles since Continue reading →

O’Flaherty goes low to lead in Lee Valley

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Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup 2018, Lee Valley Golf Club. Second Round, Saturday 21st April 2018Gary O’Flaherty had a super second round of 64 in Lee Valley this afternoon to claim the lead in the Senior Scratch Cup.  Nine birdies and a single bogey saw the Cork GC golfer post an 11 shot swing from his morning round.  His 75/64 has given him a two shot lead in the competition with the final 18 holes scheduled for tomorrow.  Ronan Mullarney (-3, 70/71) leads the chasers with Jack McDonnell and Sean Desmond on -2.  James Sugrue is 4th on -1, he’ll be looking for his second scratch cup win after success in Fota Island last week.

Gallery: Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup 2018 (R2)

O’Flaherty went on a roll from the second hole this morning.  He birdied the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and the index one 5th hole thanks to a chip in.  He parred the 6th and the 7th which was playing into a very strong wind.  Another birdie followed on the par five 8th and he turned on 30 strokes after a sixth birdie on the 9th.

Another birdie followed on the 10th with two more following on the Continue reading →