Interest Building in BoyleSports Lee Valley Scratch Cup

Robbie Walsh (Douglas) pictured after winning the 2023 BoyleSports Lee Valley Scratch Cup.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

The field is building for the 2024 BoyleSports Lee Valley Scratch Cup which takes place in less than three week’s time.  Already there are close to 50 entries of scratch or better, with Walker Cupper Caolan Rafferty leading the field with a handicap index of +5.6.  Rafferty leads a number of players from the north east with Eoin Murphy, Evan Farrell and Gavin Tiernan all set to tee it up on the 20th and 21st of April.

Rafferty and Murphy both played last year, and after getting the know the course on the opening day, and they both finished tied for fourth.  Evan Farrell is also in good form at the moment, reaching the quarter finals of the Connolly Motors West of Ireland in Co Sligo on Continue reading

Douglas Senior Scratch Cup set for Saturday

2022 winner Morgan Cain

The Douglas Senior Scratch Cup takes place on Saturday and it marks one of the last opportunities for a major title in Cork this season.  The 36 hole competition is set to attract a strong field for is usually a very competitive event.  Holder Morgan Cain is not around to defend his title.  The Cork member is the US now having moved to Tusculum University in Tennessee last month to start his first year with Pioneers golf programme.

2021 winner Peter O’Keeffe will be among the favourites for the event.  After finishing in second place on five occasions he finally won his home scratch cup two years ago.  He’ll be hoping to add a second title this Continue reading

Poucher wins Kinsale Scratch Cup

Partin Poucher receiving the Kinsale Senior Scratch Cup from Tim Smyth from sponsors ODG Advisory.

Martin Poucher claimed his first scratch cup in almost a decade when he won in Kinsale on Saturday.  The Limerick native was the only one to get around Farrangalway in level par in what was a very testing morning for golf.  The winner found himself three over par after 12 holes, but a massive 40 foot birdie putt dropped to start a charge to the finish.  Three more pars and two birdies followed, he birdied the last to get to level and that proved to be the winning score.

West Waterford’s Mark Shanahan was one behind the winner on +1 and Cork’s Jonathan O’Sullivan took third place with a 74.  James Walsh rounded off the prize winners in fourth place, he also shot a two over Continue reading

Woodbrook win for Peter O’Keeffe

Peter O’Keeffe (Douglas) Picture: Niall O’Shea

Peter O’Keeffe got back to winning ways last Sunday.  O’Keeffe set a course record on his way to winning the Pinergy Woodbrook Scratch Cup in an impressive performance over 36 holes.  O’Keeffe ended up six shots clear of the field, his Irish teammate Rob Brazill finished in second place on -4.

The Walker Cup panel member shot a course record 65 in his first round.  That included five birdies and an eagle on his way to shooting a seven under par 65. That left him four shots clear of the field going into the second round.  O’Keeffe produced another great round in the afternoon, he ended up three under and was the only golfer to break 70.  After opening with two birdies Peter went on to drop a shot on the sixth to go out in one under.  He had another three birdies and one bogey on the back nine to sign for a 69 and win the event in style.

Jason lays down the Law in Cork

Jason Law beat the field and the course in Cork last weekend to win the Munster Amateur Open.  The East Cork golfer survived six rounds of golf over three days to become the latest winner of the Cork Scratch Cup.  The 48-year-old in fine form all weekend and he brought that into the final where he got the better of Harry Gillivan in the final on Bank Holiday Monday. Continue reading