Stroke Classic set for Mahon

Stroke Classic 20182018 promises to be another big year for fundraising golf classics and one of the first will be in Mahon in early April.  The Cork Stroke Support Group will be the beneficiaries from the event which takes place on Friday 6th April.  The format is a threeball scramble and the event is sponsored by Carbon Group.  The classic is being organised by Dan and John Cronin whose father benefited from the services of Cork Stroke Support Group.  The cost per team is just €120 and the sponsors have ensured that there are some great prizes on offer.  Tee and green sponsorships are available for anyone who can’t play but would like to contribute to the classic.

Another of the early season classics is the Mercy Hospital Classic.  That takes place over two days in Fota Island Resort.  This year the focus is Continue reading

Murphy enjoying Kentucky experience

John Murphy
Picture: Niall O'SheaKentucky based John Murphy is ready for competitive action later this month as the talented Kinsale golfer prepares to restart his season.  The Irish Mens squad member is in his first year in the University of Louisville golf programme and despite an enforced lay-off due to knee surgery he’s really enjoyed the first semester in the US.  After moving over to Kentucky in August, it was a slow start for Murphy that ultimately meant minor surgery on a recurrent knee problem.  That side-lined John from competitive action but he worked on his rehab plan and will be in contention for a place when the first competition of new year in just a few weeks.  The end of the rehab coincided with a return home for a few weeks to catch up with family and friends.  “I came back to Ireland on the 14th of December and I was very excited to come back” said Murphy.  Christmas didn’t disappoint, I had plenty time to hang out with my friends and family because I would consider myself very Continue reading

Mitchelstown launch New Membership Options

Mitchelstown GC Drive In 2018 1

Mitchelstown Officers pictured at the recent drive in: Men’s Captain John O’Brien, President Liam O’Sullivan, Junior Captain Tommy Maher and Lady Captain Angela Riemensperger.
Pic: Billy Murphy

It’s often described as a hidden gem but Mitchelstown Golf Club is a popular spot for golfers in North Cork.  A new membership drive has seen the club boost its profile as interest in the sport is growing again.  The club has been a regular in the cups and shields events, and the highlight came in 2011 when the Junior Cup team won provincial and national honours.  The club is over 100 years old, it was founded in 1910 Mitchelstown Golf Club was a nine hole golf course for the better part of seventy years.  As the demand for golf grew in the late eighties and early nineties, it became apparent to members that Mitchelstown Golf Club needed to look forward. Being surrounded on all sides by valuable and expensive farming land the move to an eighteen hole course was not easy in financial terms so the step forward was accomplished in two stages.  Stage one was the construction of six new holes which opened in 1994.  Stage two followed some years later with the Continue reading

Q School Date for McNamara

Cian McNamara_Monkstown Golf Club_Sept 2017Monkstown Head Professional Cian McNamara has an exciting event next week, he’s heading to France for stage one of the European Tour Qualifying School.  McNamara has spent well over three years in Monkstown and the Limerick native was appointed as Head Professional two years ago.  Prior that he was effectively a full-time player on the Irish PGA circuit.  After a year in Monkstown an opportunity arose to become head pro, and in the past two years Cian has grown into the prestigious position.  It was a big change for Cian but one that has worked out.  “Things have changed dramatically for me over the two years.  I have far more responsibility now than I ever had in my life but I feel I am growing into the position and hope that members of the golf club feel that I am improving in the role more as time is going on” said Cian on Continue reading

Skibbereen win Munster Mixed Foursomes

Skibbereen Munster Mixed Fours 2017

Skibbereen’s Rhona O’Donoghue and John McNamara receiving the Munster Mixed Foursomes Cup from Jim Hornibrook, Captain Muskerry Golf Club.

Skibbeen’s John McNamara and Rhona O’Donoghue won the Munster Mixed Foursomes at Muskerry recently.  The pair carded a winning score of 71 on the testing course to win by a shot.  This was the 80th staging of the event and there was a large entry from clubs all over Munster.  Michael and Brid Halloran took second place on 72.5 and East Cork took third place one shot further back.  As well as the cup, the winners were also presented with commemorative prizes.  The cup was first presented in in 1937 and counts Jimmy Bruen as one of the many well know winners through the years.  Claire Coughlan Ryan and Oonagh Barry win the Australian Spoons at Co. Longford Golf Club last week.  Despite wet and heavy conditions the Cork pairing of Claire Coughlan Ryan and Oonagh Barry were a model of consistency with 19 points on both the front and extremely tricky back nine at Co. Longford Golf Club in a round that had birdies at the par 3 8th and par 4 15th.  Last years winners Helen Jones and Vivienne Houston (Royal Portrush) won the best gross.  Presented to the ILGU in 1967 by the Australian Ladies Golf Union to support players representing Ireland at International Competitions, the Australian Spoons is contended for by clubs across Ireland.  Clubs hold an 18 hole stableford greensomes qualifier, in which their nett and gross winners progress to the District Finals.

Bornemann enjoys Irish Debut

Sean O'Leary Karl Bornemann

Irish Seniors Captain Sean O’Leary pictured with Karl Bornemann after Ireland won the European Senior Team Championship 

Douglas’ Karl Bornemann celebrated his Ireland selection by being part of the winning team at the European Senior Team Championships.  Karl was one of two new caps selected by Irish Captain Sean O’Leary, and both justified their selection winning matches at crucial points.  Bornemann had a great start to the competition in the strokeplay rounds.  On the opening day he shot a two under par 70, helped by an eagle on the par four 5th.  He calmly holed an uphill wedge from 100 yards to give himself a boost in his first round in an Irish shirt.  Karl was heading for an under par finish on day two also, but a bogey on the last meant that he signed for a level par 72, and he finished in a tie for 6th place after 36 holes.

Ireland finished in the joint top position on the team rankings alongside Scotland, and qualified for the top flight matchplay phase.  The format for matchlplay stage was one foursomes match and four singles.  In the quarter final they faced hosts Sweden and came away with a 3-2 win.  Ireland faced England in the semi final and they had a surprisingly easy win, taking three matches very early to secure the win.  Karl had the luxury of being called in on Saturday, but in Sunday’s final he led the charge.  Ireland were up against outsiders Denmark, they had a surprise win over Scotland in the semi-final.  Bornemann was first to finish in the final as he recorded a 5&4 win to Continue reading

Healy finishes 10th at Irish Students

Mark Healy Kinsale

Kinsale’s Mark Healy pictured in 2015

Mark Healy finished in the top ten in Bray thanks to a great recovery that featured five birdies.  The Kinsale man had a poor start with a bogey on the opening hole and another on the second hole.  He steadied after that and pulled a shot back at the seventh.  He had birdies the 10th and 11th to get back into the red and two more birdies followed on the 15th and at the final hole.  Healy’s 67’s matched the best score of the day, winner Stefan Greenberg along with second placed Ronan Mullarney and third placed Jack McDonnell also went around the course in Bray on -3.

James Sugrue had a disappointing final round that saw him drop from third place to 12th.  He signed for a four over par 74 which featured only a single bogey.  Sean Desmond had a 72 to finish just inside the top 30 while Cathal Butler and Darren Hourihan ahd 77’s to finish in the middle of the pack, while Aoife Ni Thuama finished in 8th place in the Continue reading