Senior Scratch Cup

Munster Strokeplay closing date approaching

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Munster Strokeplay Championship 2016

2016 winner Cathal Butler (Kinsale)  Picture: Niall O’Shea

The closing date for entries for the Munster Strokeplay Championshipis just a week away so it’s a timely reminder for anyone who wants to compete in Cork’s premier 72 hole tournament.  Cork Golf Club will again host the event, with the winner receiving the historic Cork Scratch Cup, the oldest scratch cup in the country.

Gallery: Munster Strokeplay 2016

Holder Cathal Butler (Kinsale) won the event last year after an exciting play-off win over Cork’s Gary O’Flaherty.  Butler has already entered, as has Kinsale’s John Murphy who won the Munster Student’s Championship in Cork GC this week.  This year the Munster Strokeplay is a counting event for the GUI Order of Merit (Willie Gill Award) and that should be an added incentive for golfers to travel to Cork for the May Bank Holiday weekend.  The event has been a WAGR counting event for several years, and it also counts towards the Munster Senior Order of Merit.  Last year there were over 50 golfers playing off scratch or better, and the indications are that a similar standard will be seen when the event gets underway on Saturday 29th April.  Peter O’Keeffe (+2.9), Ian O’Rourke (+2.6), Mark Power (+2.5) and James Sugrue (+2) head the entrants at present.  A total of 78 golfer will compete in the opening 36 holes, with the top 39 (plus ties) going forward for the second 36 holes on Sunday 30th April.

Munster Strokeplay Championship 2017 Entry Form

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Lee Valley set for bumper Scratch Cup

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Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup Launch 8th Mar 2017_1

Pictured at the launch of the Dell EMC Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup were Pat Power (Captain), Elaine Beare and Gillian Bergin (Dell EMC) and Declan Farrell (President)

The golf season is finally getting underway and last week Lee Valley launched their showpiece Senior Scratch Cup which takes place next month.  The 54 hole tournament is the only club event in Cork that attracts WAGR world ranking points and should again attract some of Ireland’s top amateurs.  The competition takes place on the 22/23 April and just a week after the West of Ireland unofficially opens the 2017 season.  Tournament Director Vincent Drinan has been involved since the inaugural 54 hole event in 2009 and he’s already busy taking entries.  “We are really looking forward to another great event this year” said Drinan.  “Entries are now open and anyone interested in playing should contact me directly.  Last year we used a later date in April and this worked very well, and the course should be in excellent condition for the event.  The feedback has always been positive from the entrants, both from local golfers who play here regularly and from those who travel.  We already have a number of Continue reading →

O’Keeffe wins Doneraile Senior Scratch Cup

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peter-okeeffe-donerailePeter O’Keeffe notched up his third Senior Scratch Cup win this month with a fine 67 in Doneraile today.  O’Keeffe finished with a one under par 67, despite carding two bogeys and a double bogey.  The Douglas man did have five birdies which did help the card and he was cruising nicely until the 11th when he had a double after trying to go for the par 4 green.

 

After wins in Kinsale and Castlymartyr earlier this month, O’Keeffe is definitely on form.  He had a two shot winning margin over Irish Seniors International Michael Quirke who finished on 69.  Apart from the winner, the home club too the rest of the prizes,  David Finn finished on 72 and the nett prize was won by Hugh Dolan with a 68.

Doneraile Senior Scratch Cup, sponsored by Eilys Bar

  1. Peter O’Keeffe 67
  2. Michael Quirke 69
  3. Dave Finn 72
  4. Hugh Dolan 68 (Best Nett)

Two Cups in Two Days – O’Keeffe is the form golfer, Castlemartyr Senior Scratch Cup

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peter-okeeffe-munsterPeter O’Keeffe has worked hard all year to win a senior scratch cup, and this weekend he won two.  After shooting a winning 68 in Kinsale yesterday, O’Keeffe was back on course this morning in Castlemartyr.  Starting early again, the Douglas man plotted his way around the Ron Kirby designed links and carved out a three under par 69.

And O’Keeffe repeated another thing this morning that he did yesterday.  He lost a ball on the opening hole and took a double bogey.  The Munster golfer’s tee shot found the heavy rough and the ball was lost.  Like yesterday he recovered and added three pars before getting his first birdies on the 5th.  He also birdied the par five 8th to gt back to level par before parring the 9th.  O’Keeffe went under par following a birdie on the 11th but couldn’t do better than that as he parred the next five holes where at least a birdie or two might have been expected.  He capitalised on the closing holes however.  He chipped in on the 17th after missing the green, and on the last hole he hit a nine iron from 175 yards to ten feet.  He made the putt to sign for a winning 69.

Dave O’Donovan (Muskerry) took second place with a 73 and Kinsale’s Cathal Butler was third with a 74.  Mallow’s James Sugrue was fourth with 75 and Michael Lenihan won the best nett prize.

 

O’Keeffe Wins Kinsale Senior Scratch Cup, Murphy helps Ireland to European Boys Team Title

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Interpros 2016 Peter O'Keeffe

Peter O’Keeffe (Douglas) 

Peter O’Keeffe won the Kinsale Senior Scratch Cup today with a four under pat 68.  O’Keeffe recovered after an interesting start, he put a three iron out of bounds on the first tee which meant he walked onto the second hole on +2.  He recovered however and started racking up the birdies.  He went under par on the 3rd, 6th and 8th before dropping a shot on the 9th.  O’Keeffe added four birdies and five pars on the back nine to set the clubhouse lead on -4.  The round could have been better, O’Keeffe missed a birdie putt on the 17th and an eagle putt on the 18th.  Still it was enough to give the Douglas and Munster golfer his first scratch cup of the year.  Kinsale’s Keith Fitzpatrick also finished with a 68 but had to settle for second place with O’Keeffe beating him on the back nine.  Cork’s John Hickey finished in third place.  Many of the golfers today will be in action again tomorrow in the Continue reading →

Cork Golf Club Senior Foursomes

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Entries are currently open for the Cork Golf Club Senior Foursomes which take place on the 27th and 28th of this month.  The 36 hole competition is open to gents aged 55 or over and the entry fee is €70.  The competition is a popular event in the Cork calendar and has been running since 1988.  The current holders are Micheal Quirke and Tom Cleary, Quirke is the Leinster Seniors champion and Cleary is the Irish Seniors champion.  Gross and nett prizes are on offer.

Details are available from the club and booking can be made through this link

 

 

Last Chance for Senior Scratch Cup Wins

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This weekend golfers will have two chances to win a prestigious Senior Scratch Cup as both Kinsale and Castlemartyr host their showpiece Category One events.  Kinsale’s 18 hole competition takes place on Saturday and already there is very strong interest.  A large field of young golfers have entered, all hoping to make their breakthrough win a big win.  There are still some early and mid morning tee times available and entry is just €15.  Entries can be made through the link below.

Kinsale Golf Club Senior Scratch Cup Entry

amarenco-solarOn Sunday, it’s Castlemaryr’s turn with the inland links course retaining it’s season ending position on the golfing calendar.  With both Muskerry and Monkstown hoping to be in Cups and Shields action on Saturday there’s a good opportunity for members of both clubs to get out and play on Sunday.  The event is again supported by John Mullins from Amarenco Solar who has been a long time supporter of Castlemartyr.  Entry for Castlemartyr is €30 and the format has reverted to an 18 hole (timesheet) to allow the maximum number of golfers take part.  There’s a generous prize fund in place including nett prizes.  Entries for Castlemartyr can be made by calling the pro-shop on 021 Continue reading →

Davey Barry wins in Rosslare, Spillane wins Macroom Senior Scratch Cup.

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DaDavey Barryvey Barry (Douglas Pro-Shop) won his first big event on the PGA Irish Region tour yesterday with a great round in Rosslare.  Playing in tough weather conditions the Douglas Assistant Pro won by two shots in the Kelly’s Resort sponsored Rosslare Pro-Am.  Barry started well with a run of birdies on the third, fourth and fifth, but he gave two shots back before the turn with bogies on the seventh and ninth.  Despite playing the very difficult conditions Davey had a great back nine, he added four birdies including two on 17 and 18 to see him finish two shots clear of Damien McGrane, Mark Murphy and Colm Moriarty.  David Ryan shot a two under par 70 to claim fifth position alongside David Higgins, and Wayne O’Callaghan finished in the top twenty.  It was a good weekend for Davey who was also named in the field for the Irish PGA Championship which takes place in Moyvalley at the end of this month.

Macroom’s 36 holes Senior Scratch Cup was hit by the weather yesterday, and the decision to reduce the event to an 18 hole format was welcomed by almost all of the field.  Mallow’s Ian Spillane won with a level par 71, three shots clear of James Sugure.  Macroom’s Alan Moriarty won the nett prize with a 76.  Eyes now turn to Kinsale and Castlemartyr who host their senior scratch cups next weekend.

Smartphones Direct

Butler claims 3rd scratch cup in Killarney

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Munster Strokeplay Championship 2016

Cathal Butler

Kinsale’s Cathal Butler won his third scratch cup of the year when he came from behind to win the Killarney Senior Scratch Cup on Saturday.  The 36 hole competition, played over both courses had a capacity field and report from the players were very positive.  Peter O’Keeffe from Douglas led after the opening round with a 73, two clear of Cathal Butler who was his closest challenger.  O’Keeffe added 72 on Mahony’s Point in his second round, giving him a total of 145.  With the wind picking up and Butler being one of the alter starters the odds were that O’Keeffe would maintain the lead.  As it happened Butler shot a hugely impressive 69 in his second to tie O’Keeffe and win on the countback.

Butler could have been better placed after the first round, he was three over for his final three holes on Killeen.  He made no such mistakes on the run-in in Mahony’s in the afternoon.  He birdied three holes on the front nine and added two more birdies on the 11th and 16th.  He bogies the 3rd and the par five 13th, be he was three under when standing on the 18th tee.  There could have been trouble on the 18th Continue reading →

No Friday Feeling for Cork Golfers in Lahinch, South of Ireland Day 3 Report

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Munster Strokeplay Championship 2016

Cathal Butler (Kinsale) 

Friday was a bad day for Cork golfers in Lahinch as the matchplay stages of the Pierse Motors South of Ireland got underway. Four Cork golfers qualified through to the top 64 matchplay, but by Friday evening all four had exited the competition.  Paul McCarthy made a stunning start to the competition on Wednesday and Thursday during the strokeplay qualifying rounds.  McCarthy was -5 for 36 holes but lost out in the matchplay when David Foy beat him on the 16th green.  Peter O’Keeffe also lost out in the first round.  Robbie Cannon, his playing partner from Wednesday and Thursday got the better of him with an impressive 6&4 win.

Golffile Gallery from Day 3 at Lahinch

John Hickey won his morning match against Rosslare’s Gary Collins but then lost out in the second round when beaten by Daniel Holland by one hole.  Kinsale’s Cathal Butler also made it through the first round with a win on the 18th green over former champions Pat Murray.  Like the other Cork golfers though, he lost out in one of the later matches this afternoon, losing on the 16th to Stephen Watts.  The final 16 are back on the course tomorrow morning and four more round face the finalists when the competition concludes on Sunday.

South of Ireland Amateur Continue reading →