Thomas & Eamonn O’Driscoll
Eamonn O’Driscoll will join his brother Thomas in the final qualifying stage of the Alps Tour, following his top 30 finished at La Cala earlier this week. The Castlehaven native joins his brother who has already qualified for the final stage thanks to his 2016 tour status. Eamonn shot an opening 78 and followed that with a 75 to make the cut with a two shot cushion.
The O’Driscoll teenagers have both been working hard on their golf over the past few months. Both have been active participants on the Alps Tour in the second half of the season and the Paris based golfers have been building up their experience of top flight golf.
Kilkenny’s Luke Donnelly and Connacht’s Declan Loftus were the only other Irish golfers to qualify for the final stage. The final round starts on La Cala’s Asia course tomorrow
For the first time in many years there will be a three way election for the post of Chairman of the Munster Branch. The Annual delegates meeting takes place later this month and the election will see two Munster Branch Officers and a former Officer contest the election. There is one nomination for each of the other Officer posts and there are 21 nominees for the 17 places on the Provincial Council.
Kinsale’s John Murphy had a pretty special bank holiday weekend, Murphy was in Portugal for the Darren Clarke Champions Weekend. As winner of the Munster Youths in August, Murphy was invited to take part in the event which was hosted by the Amendoeira Golf Resort in the Algarve. The 18 winners from the top youths, boys and girls competitions in 2016 invited for the three day trip. Rachel Thompson, Mairead Martin and Valerie Clancy also earned invitations after their performances this year. After a 4am start in Dublin airport on Friday morning, the golfers met Clarke on arrival at the golf club and played golf with the Ryder Cup Captain three times over the two days. Although vastly experienced at top level national and international boys golf, Murphy admitted that it was a pretty special experience. “We went over to the golf club and Darren introduced himself to us. It was kind of weird at the start, but I got used to it after a few hours” said Murphy who is now a student in Maynooth. “We played 18 holes with Darren playing with us and watching us, pointing 
The Munster PGA Winter Series gets underway this week with a visit for the first time to Dooks. The Glenbeigh course will hold the first event of the calendar on Monday next which is a pro-am. The event is sponsored by Ping and a large number of entrants is expected. Dooks’ resident professional Danny Sugrue will be hoping to take advantage of his extensive local knowledge, but Liam Higgins could also make that claim so it should be a very competitive event. It’s been a busy few weeks for the Munster PGA committee and Captain Stephen Hayes. They have been planning an extended series of eight events which will take place from October to March. As well as prizes form each competition, golfers will also be competing for the PGB Order of Merit.
Cathal Butler (Maynooth) added a second 69 today at round two of the inter-varsities in Lahinch, and he no in second place just two shots off the lead. Munster Youths winner Jack McDonnell is the leader on -8 after recording a 67 in his second round. First round leader Kyle McCarron shot a 72 which sees him remain in second place level with Butler.
Cork Golf News 