Senior Scratch Cup

2nd Cork Scratch Cup for Coughlan

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Munster Stroke Play winner Paul Coughlan pictured with Sean Barry from sponsors C2O Group and Dave Prendergast from Golf Ireland.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Paul Coughlan became the 100th name on the famous Cork Scratch Cup after he won the C2O Group Munster Men’s Stroke Play Amateur Open Championship at Cork Golf Club.

The Castleknock golfer produced two impressive rounds of golf on Sunday to overturn a five-shot deficit after Saturday’s two rounds.  The Westmeath native, who also won in 2024 was playing in the penultimate group on Sunday morning and set about his task from the opening hole with a birdie.

“I said go out and make a few early birdies here with the way the course sets up” said Coughlan after his win.  “It was kind of the same as two years ago, I might have been five or six shots behind going into the Sunday,” said Coughlan.  “Lucky enough I was able to birdie the first three holes, get back in it straight away and then had a little lead coming in the back nine so I tried to play smart but safe coming in.”

“I was told I was three ahead coming down 14 so I said unless one of the lads do something pretty special, five pars will do it. Lucky enough it was,” said Coughlan.

Coughlan has played in the Munster Stroke Play for many years and he is now a two-time winner of the Munster Stroke Play, and he admitted that he likes the annual trip to Cork.  “It was good, I love coming to Cork. It’s a great place to play golf. I’ve had a rough couple of months so nice to turn a corner this weekend.  I know where to hit drivers and where not to hit drivers, it suits my eye.  It’s play aggressive as possible until you don’t need to.  Coming in I laid up a little bit just to get the job done.”

A 75-strong field teed it up over two rounds on Saturday,  and that was reduced to 31 for the final two rounds Sunday.  Adam Fahey from Portmarnock set the pace on Saturday rounds of 66 and 68 putting him at ten under par, two shots clear of Conor Stapleton (Westport) and five ahead of Coughlan.

Coughlan pictured after his win in 2024.

The third round saw the leaderboard tighten significantly, as Coughlan signed for an impressive bogey-free 67 to take a one-shot lead into the final round. Stapleton carded a 71, while Fahey slipped back with a 73, leaving the pair tied for second.

Having seized an advantage in calm weather on Sunday morning, Coughlan looked to build on his momentum early in the final round, carding back-to-back birdies on 2 and 3.  With Fahey taking double bogeys on both 7 and 9, Coughlan moved two shots clear of the field.  Heavy showers in the afternoon threatened to disrupt the event at one point, but the fast draining Little Island course held up.  The soft receptive greens provided the field with plenty of birdie opportunities but nobody was able to catch the Castleknock member.

Having secured a four-shot victory at this event in 2024, Coughlan drew on his championship winning experience to keep the chasing pack at bay. He remained steady throughout the back nine as he parred his way home to seal a two-shot victory and write his name into the history books at Cork Golf Club.

Adam Fahey finished second in the standings on eight under par and picked up the Carr Bruen Shield as the best Under 25.  Barry O’Connell was the best placed local golfer.  The Douglas member finished on -6 to take fourth place after carding rounds of 69, 70, 72 and 71.  Joe O’Neill, Barry Anderson, Robbie Walsh and Joe O’Sullivan also made the half way cut.

The event was again sponsored by Paul Buckley’s C2O Group and the C2O’S Sean Barry was there to present the Cork Scratch cup to Coughlan.  Golf Ireland Munster Chairman Dave Prendergast acknowledged the support from Paul Buckley to allow the club and Golf Ireland to deliver one of the most prestigious events in the region.

 

John Doyle

John Doyle, the 2025 winner of the Munster Stroke Play was in action in Lytham over the weekend and the Fota Island teenager finished in 5th place in the elite amateur event.  Doyle was the best of the 16 Irish golfers who travelled to the tournament outside Blackpool, and after his win in Lee Valley last week, his game is trending in the right direction as he heads for the Flogas Irish Amateur Open in Seapoint this weekend.  Barry O’Connell, Sean Barry, David Howard, Robbie Walsh, Joe O’Neill, Sean Reddy and James Walsh will also tee it up in Termonfeckon tomorrow.

C2O Continue Munster Stroke Play Sponsorship

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Pictured at the launch of the Munster Mens Open Stroke Play at Cork Golf Club were Dave Predergast (Chairman Golf Ireland Munster Region), Sean Barry (C2O sponsors), Liam Ormond (Captain), Mary Fitzgerald (Lady Captain) and Peter Loughnane (General Manager). The Championship takes place on 2/3 May.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

C2O group have continued their sponsorship of Cork’s most prestigious amateur golf event, the Munster Stroke Play which takes place in Cork Golf Club next weekend.  C2O supports golf in a number of ways and the company is now in its second year sponsoring the Munster Stroke Play.

Sean Barry, Executive General Manager Europe for C2O said “We’re delighted at C2O Group to be sponsoring such a prestigious event on the Irish men’s golf circuit.  Events like this are hugely important for the game, for the clubs involved, and for the next generation of Irish golfers coming through.”

“Supporting this event is a natural fit for us because golf reflects many of the same qualities we value as a business — commitment, discipline, professionalism and performance. We’re proud to be involved and we Continue reading →

Blarney preparing for Senior Scratch Cup

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Blarney Golf Course
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Blarney Golf Club have announced details of their senior scratch cup, the 36 hole event takes place in late May and the organisers are expecting to draw a high-quality field.  Darren Kelleher and Damien Kelleher are again organising the event and they’re busy getting ready.

“We are looking forward to hosting our third Christy Horgan Senior Scratch Cup on the 23rd of May” said Darren.  “We are delighted with how the first two stagings of the scratch cups have went, the feedback we got after each one was great to hear, and how much everyone enjoyed it and Continue reading →

Walsh Wins Second BoyleSports Lee Valley Title

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Robbie Walsh had a dramatic win in Lee Valley over the weekend as the Douglas member won his second BoyleSports Lee Valley Scratch Cup.

Walsh was declared the winner after a total of 58 holes – the standard three rounds of 54 holes plus four play-off holes.  He came into the final day trailing the leader Ben Murray by nine shots, but a four under par 68 low round of the tournament gave him a chance to reclaim the title he won two years ago.  In a final round where three players held the lead at different points, Murray dropped shots on the 16th and 17th to finish level with Walsh. 

Gallery: BoyleSports Lee Valley Scratch Cup 2025

For the first time in the history of the event it went to a play-off, with the 1st, 16, 17th and 18th designated as the four holes for the decider.  Murray led by one after the first, but gave the shot back on the 16th.  The Lee Valley member got into trouble on the right of 17 before going long with his approach, and Walsh’s regulation par meant he had a comfortable lead going up the 18th.  Both finished with pars, giving Walsh a win that many felt unlikely at the start of the day. 

“I thought I had obviously a small chance, I thought there was always a chance if I could post the score and just needed to hole a few putts” said Walsh after the win.  “I played nicely yesterday but just nothing really went in for me, so I managed to hold a few more today although I thought I was going to come up maybe one short.”

“I thought I thought I might be one short but then maybe five minutes after I finished I heard that Ben bogied 16th so I knew there was a chance.  The birdie on 18 ended up being huge and got me into the play-off”

Having fought his way back into contention, and error on the first play-off hole handed his opponent the advantage.  But the setback didn’t sway Walsh and he stuck to the process.

“I just had a bad wedge into the 1st and the chip was unlucky but just tried to keep doing what I was doing.  I said if I could shoot level par for the play-off, they’re not easy holes like, so I knew I’d give myself a chance.”

The UCC student now joins a small group of players who have multiple wins in Lee Valley, and he’s put himself in a good position to add more and it’s clear the course suits his game.  Walsh was part of the Douglas AIG Senior Cup winning panel and has been working on his game all year, through the Golf Ireland championships and other events. 

Anyone interested in the event may have been surprised to hear that the first two rounds went ahead on Saturday morning in the immediate aftermath of Storm Amy.  The course had been closed since Thursday and although there was heavy rainfall on Friday, the near gale force winds on Friday night and into Saturday helped to dry the course.  Tournament Director Vincent Drinan made the decision to play preferred lies on Saturday morning, meaning the event would still qualify for WAGR ranking points. 

Several golfers struggled with the winds on Saturday morning, leading to some high scores.  2016 winner Colm Campbell had the measure of the conditions and led the way after shooting a one under par 71.  Ben Murray went lower in Saturday’s second round with a 69, thanks in part to five birdies on the back nine.  Jordan Boles was only one behind after two rounds of 72 and Rian Carvill was next best on +4.

While Walsh set an early target of +4 for the 54 holes, both Murray and Boles held the lead at different points.  Boles was one ahead until a lost ball on the 15th took him out of contention.  Murray had a disappointing three over front nine, but was leading until two late bogies brought him back to +4 meaning additional holes.

While first and second place were determined by the play-off, Colm Campbell took third place and Rian Carvill took fourth spot.  Keelan McCarthy won best Lee Valley and 2015 winner Dave O’Donovan took the net prize.  Although Walsh beat the home player, most of the Lee Valley members stayed for the presentation, and while they were backing their own man, they were happy for the 2023 winner when he went on to win.

 

 

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Doyle Conquers Cork Again

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John Doyle conquered Cork Golf Club for the second time in two weeks as he came from behind to win the C2O Group sponsored Munster Stroke Play.  Fresh from his win at the Irish Boys, Doyle is now two from two in Little Island.

It was a super weekend for golf in Cork, a strong field took on the Alister MacKenzie signature course which was in great condition.  The 75 strong field including West of Ireland Champion Dylan Holmes (Greystones), Flogas Irish Boys’ Amateur Open Champion John Doyle (Fota Island) and the recently returning Stuart Grehan (Co. Louth).  Holder Paul Coughlan and previous winners Karl Bornemann and Barry Anderson were also in the field.

John Doyle (Fota Island) receiving the Munster Stroke Play trophy from Paul Buckley from C2O Group, sponsors of the tournament.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

From the initial field at the Little Island course on Saturday, just 33 remained by Sunday morning and it was an ever changing leaderboard.  Cork’s Jonathan O’Sullivan led after the opening round with an impressive 69 in windy conditions.  By Saturday afternoon there was a three way tie for the lead, Keith Egan TJ Ford and James O’Rourke were out in front.  Egan in particular impressed with a five under par 67 after a great display of putting.

In the final round it was the 17-year-old Mitchelstown native who would battle his way to the top, taking a one-shot victory in what would be one of the tightest finishes the championship had seen for many years.

Doyle would finish his third-round level par for the tournament, rounds of 72, 71 and 73 leaving him in a Continue reading →

McCarthy wins Blarney Scratch Cup

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Keelan McCarthy winner of the Blarney Senior Scratch Cup pictured with members of Blarney Golf Club.

Keelan McCarthy scooped one of the last trophies for 2024 last weekend when he won the Blarney Senior Scratch Cup.  The Lee Valley man led from the start on Saturday to win the inaugural Christy Horgan Cup, named in memory of the Blarney clubman.

McCarthy made all the running in the morning and led the field by four shots after shooting a one under par 69.  David Lane, Ryan Lyons, Robbie Walsh, and Aidan Rowsome were the next best going into the second round with Ben Murray and Padraig O’Connor also chasing.

David Howard shot the round of the day on Saturday afternoon when he carded a three under par 67.  When added to his morning 76 it left him on three over, and with that he secured second place.  McCarthy added a second round 72 to his morning score to finish on +1, and he won by two.  David Lane added a second round 72 to take third place and Ben Murray was third.

McCarthy was delighted to win his first scratch cup.  A previous winner of the Bruen Youths in Muskerry, Keelan has waited a few years to claim another major win.  “I’m absolutely Continue reading →

Reddan wins Mallow Scratch Cup

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Mallow held another very successful senior scratch cup over the weekend with an impressive field taking part.  The Dan Butler Cup was on offer for the winner, with three rounds of golf taking place over two days.  After the opening two rounds, Nenagh’s Dave Reddan led by two strokes, ahead of Ben Murray and Jimmy Walsh.  But after the final 18 was played there was a tie on top of the leaderboard as Fermoy’s Dean O’Riordan joining Reddan in first place.  O’Riordan shot a two under par 68 while Reddan shot a 73.  When the first play-off hole was tied, it was onto the second where Reddan too the honours.

The Tipperary native was runner-up in Mallow for the past two years so it was fitting that he claim the title after supporting the Continue reading →

Three Wins for Cork Golfers

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There were three good wins for Cork golfers last week, spanning different ages and geographies. The age and geographic gap was notable with winners ranging in age from teenagers to the sixties, and wins in three different places.  Closest to home, Cian McDonnell won the Kerry Boys, Karl Bornemann won the Irish Veterans Close and Justin Dennehy won the Scottish Under 14.

Justin Dennehy has won his fair share of junior golf competitions and he was back on the winning trail last week when the 13-year-old won the inaugural Scottish Under 14 Open Championship.

The youngster posted rounds of 68 and 73 at Dunfermline Continue reading →

Gazi wins in Douglas

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Mark Gazi (Tralee) pictured with Captain Shane Hartnett and Peter O’Keeffe (GolfStrong) after winning the Senior Scratch Cup.
Picture: James Doolan

The Douglas Scratch Cup is in Kerry hands for the first time in nearly thirty years after Mark Gazi won in style on Sunday.  The Tralee teenager shot a second round 65 to win by one shot.

Gazi was on the fringes after an opening 72, he was four shots behind the leader Dean O’Riordan and back in 6th place.  A second round 65 (five under par) not only got him back on track, it put him into a winning position.  After chipping in for birdies on the 18th, he rolled in a six foot birdie putt on his final hole (6th) and that was the difference when Continue reading →