Valerie Clancy
The ILGU announced their coaching panels for 2016/2017 and there was good news for several Cork golfers. Valerie Clancy and Mairead Martin were both named on the ILGU High Performance panel for 2017. It’s a great achievement for both girls as they have continued to improve through the 2016 season.
2016 was also a breakthrough for Cork’s Rachel Thompson who was added to the funded performance panel for the year ahead. The high performance panel has the stated objective of developing world class players while the funded performance panel is aimed at encouraging golfers to compete at international level, at individual and team events. Thompson, Martin and Clancy all featured on the Irish Girls team that won the home internationals in Wales earlier this year.
Sara Byrne (Douglas) was named on the Horizon coaching panel which is aimed at supporting and developing younger players, and preparing them for the transition to the high performance panel in years to come. The ILGU are currently in the process of developing the new structure with the regional professionals with a view to rolling out the revised plans early in the new year.
David Ryan (Cahir Park) and David Foley (Dromoland Castle) came joint top in Dooks today in the first outing of the Munster PGA Winter Series. The two David’s were the only golfers to finish under par, shooting an impressive 70 in cool windy conditions. The pair had a four shot cushion over the field. Dooks was in great condition for the Ping sponsored event which attracted PGA professionals from all over the province. Third prize was shared between Limerick’s Tim Rice and Tralee’s John Sugrue after they both finished with a 74. Rice will miss the next outing as he’ll be in Tarragona, Spain hoping to earn a place at final qualifying for then European Tour. Rice qualified for the second qualifying stage last month, and will be hoping for another good performance there. Monkstown’s Cian McNamara and his amateur partner Alec O’Donnell took the pro-am prize.
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.
Mallow’s Edward Walsh won his singles match yesterday as Ireland had a great win over England. Castletown Golf Links on the Isle of Man was the venue for the Under 16 international match. It was a dramatic final day on the Isle of Man as Ireland battled back from a 5-3 deficit. Ian Halpin held his nerve at the last to seal a one hole win against Callum Macfie to tilt the match in Ireland’s favour.
