Today started with five Cork golfers still in contention in Lahinch, however as play came to a close that was reduced to just two. The draw meant that there were two all-Cork clashes this morning, and one more this afternoon. Tomorrow will see another all-Cork match with Peter O’Keeffe taking on James Sugrue.
Peter O’Keeffe marched on to the semi-final of the South of Ireland today, the Irish Open Champion was up against Cathal Butler this morning and beat the Kinsale man on the 17th. This afternoon he was up against Robbie Cannon and again closed out the match on the 17th. O’Keeffe has surely done enough at this stage to secure his place on the Home International side, he’ll be hoping to go further and become the first Cork man to win the South since Mervyn Owens. James Sugrue will be having similar ideas after his two wins today.
James Sugrue was up against Gary O’Flaherty in the other Cork match, Sugrue won that contest on the 16th green. Sugrue faced John Murphy in the quarter-final after Murphy beat Colm Campbell on the 19th. This morning Murphy was three down but birdied the 12th, 13th and 14th to level the match. He had a putt to win on the 18th but the ball refused to drop while resting on the lip. He made no mistake on the 19th however and booked his place in the final eight. On paper, Murphy probably had a slight edge over Sugrue, but it was the Mallow man who won. It was a tight match all the way through with Sugrue one ahead for a few holes on the back nine. Sugrue stretched that the two holes when he won the 16th, giving him the upper hand. A half on the 17th was enough to see Sugrue go through to the semi-final.
In the other semi-final Conor O’Rourke will take on West of Ireland winner Barry Anderson. O’Rourke had a marathon 27 hole match this morning to get past Thomas Mulligan and was taken to the 18th this afternoon by leading qualifier Lester Rowan. Play in Lahinch get’s underway at 8.30 in the morning.
Fota Island’s Open Week starts tomorrow with different events on each day. On Monday the 24th of July, golfers can enjoy Over 55’s Fourball at €100 per team. Ladies Three Ball Better Ball will take place on Tuesday at €35 per person and Open Singles at €40 per golfer takes place on Wednesday. On Thursday there’s an Open Fourball at €40 per golfer and Friday will once again host Open Singles at €40 per head, ending Fota Island Resort’s Open Week with specials that everyone can enjoy.
Cork’s Rachel Thompson is through to the final four in the Irish Girls Close. Thompson came through two tough rounds in Mallow today, and the leading qualifier is safely through to tomorrow’s semi-final. The Cork golf club member wrapped up yesterday’s first round match on the 13th winning 7&5 but today she went to the 19th before getting past Emma Forbes from Portrush. This afternoon her match with Georgina Carr went to the 17th with the Cork girl taking the match on a 2&1 margin to put her through to tomorrow’s semi-final with Maeve Rooney. There were wins too for Mairead Martin and Valerie Clancy, both golfers also come through two matchplay rounds today to qualify for the semi-final. They now face each other in the second semi-final tomorrow morning.
John Murphy had no joy in Portrush yesterday at the North of Ireland. Murphy was through to the last 16 but lost out in a tight match against Derek Downie. A disappointed Murphy headed back to Cork yesterday but one marginal benefit was a day off today as he prepares to join Kinsale’s challenge for the Barton Shield this weekend.
Mallow’s Adam Boland shot a one under par 71 in Castletroy yesterday in the opening round of the Irish Boys Open Championship. Fresh from a positive weekend with Mallow’s Senior Cup team, Boland bogied the 3rd hole but followed it with three birdies on the back nine to turn on -2. He opened the back nine with two bogies but got a shot back soon after and signed for a 71. That has him in 8th place, four shots behind defending champion Mark Power who’s in the lead on -5. Sean Leonard and Jack Egan will need to improve today if they are to make the cut. Both are on +6, and Kanturk’s Daniel 
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