Bornemann 3rd in European Senior’s Championship

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Karl Bornemann (Douglas Golf Club) finished in third place in the European Senior Men’s Championship in Spain.  The Douglas member was in fourth place going into the final round, but a one under par 71 saw him jump one place to finish in third place.  The Douglas member shot an opening round 73 and he was going well in the second round until he had four consecutive bogies.  He still signed for a 75 to hold 4th place going into the final round.  Today Bornemann bogied the second hole but birdied the fifth and ninth to get into the red.  He went on par the back nine and claim third place in his first time playing in the event?  Bornemann has been working on his game over the winter, and he’s also been working on his fitness with Peter O’Keeffe.

Karl Bornemann Scorecard European Seniors

Portmarnock’s Adrian Morrow won the competition after leading overnight. He added a final round 77, despite this he retained the lead Continue reading →

British Amateur start for John Hickey

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Munster Strokeplay Championship 2016Cork’s John Hickey will join a select number of Cork golfers this weekend when he takes part in the British Amateur Championship.  Hickey will play Royal Portcawl tomorrow afternoon in the first of his two rounds.  Hickey was third alternate when the draw was made a the start of the week and soon after he got the official call up.  Hickey has had a solid start to the season, and is currently in the top ten in the Munster senior Order of Merit.  He had good performances in the Munster Strokeplay and the East of Ireland.

2016 marks the 70th anniversary of Jimmy Bruen’s British Amateur win at Royal Birkdale.  Only a select few have qualified to play in the Amateur Championship.  Padraig Dooley play twice, Aaron O’Callaghan played when it was held in St Andrew’s and Peter O’Keeffe played in three Amateur Championships.  O’Keeffe made it to the final 32 in 2007 when a second round 66 got him through to the matchplay stage.  Padraig Dooley also made it to the Continue reading →

O’Rourke jumps into automatic spot on Order of Merit

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Munster Strokeplay Championship 2016

Ian O’Rourke

Ian O’Rourke made a jump of seven places on the Munster Senior Order of Merit thanks to his top eight finish at the East of Ireland at Co Louth.  The Cobh native had two great under par rounds on the final day to jump up the leaderboard.  O’Rourke is now in third place on the order of merit, and more importantly holds one of the four automatic places.  Cathal Butler made the cut at the East to extend his lead at the top of the table and Gary O’Flaherty remains in second place after a very strong May.  Andrew McCormack drops down to fourth place and there are three players tied for fifth place.  Mark Shanahan, Robin Dawson and James Sugrue are all on 90 points, just 10 points behind McCormack.

There are just three official events remaining on the calendar, the British Amateur takes place this weekend with Eanna Griffin, Geoff Lenehan and John Hickey all hoping to make the draw.  The Connacht Strokeplay also takes place this weekend,  and the Kerry Scratch Cup (Tralee) takes place the following weekend.

Munster Senior Order of Merit (after 11 Events)*

Pos. Name Total
1 Cathal Butler 150
2 Gary O’Flaherty 120
3 Ian O’Rourke 110
4 Andrew McCormack 100
5 Mark Shanahan 90
6 Robin Dawson 90
7 James Sugrue 90
8 John Hickey 85
9 Pat Murray 65
10 Eanna Griffin 60
11 Dave Redden 45
12 Geoff Linehan 45
13 Mark Ford 40
14 Peter O’Keeffe 30
15 Sean Barry 30
16 Gary Ward 30
17 Thomas Neenan 30
18 Ian Spillane 30
19 Declan King 30
20 Daniel Brennan 30
21 Fergal O’Sullivan 25
22 Ian O’Flynn 20
23 Mark Healy 20
24 Gavin Young 20
25 Daniel Hallissy 20
26 Emmet Leahy 20
27 C O’Donnell 20
28 Jack Ryan 15
29 Paul Tobin 15
30 Paul Flynn 15

Repairit-ie_1*Based on results received from host clubs, using the published weightings for each event, this is an unofficial list

Hickey, McCarthy & Butler make the cut in the East of Ireland

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Munster Strokeplay Championship 2016

John Hickey

John Hickey (Cork) remains the leading Cork golfer after the second round of the East of Ireland Championship at Baltray.  Today Hickey added a 73 to yesterday’s 71, and his level par total saw him safely through to the final day tomorrow.  Mallow’s Paul McCarthy is one shot behind Hickey, as is Kinsale’s Cathal Butler.  Paul O’Hanlon still holds the lead, his -9 total is four shots clear of the field.

Gary Ward (Kinsale) was very unlucky to miss the cut, he shot a wonderful 69 today.  Although he opened with two bogies in his first four holes, he rattled off three birdies and an eagle in five holes in the middle of his round.  Unfortunately for Ward he missed the cut by one shot, Saturday’s untidy 78 came back to cost the Kinsale man a place in the final day.  James Sugrue also missed the cut following a second round 75.

 

Hickey, McCarthy and Butler have 36 holes to play tomorrow, with order of merit points on offer all three will have an added incentive for finishing strongly.

East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship Scores

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Hickey best of Cork at East of Ireland

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Golf_John Hickey_Cork GC_Munster_july 2014Cork’s John Hickey is safely positioned in the top 20th after the first round of the East of Ireland at Co Louth.  Two bogies and one double threatened to distract Hickey but he birdied four of his final seven holes to sign for a one under par 71.  James Sugrue is one shot behind Hickey, the Mallow teenager had a mixed round but an eagle on the last got him back to level par, and a tie for 28th place.

East of Ireland Leaderboard

Cathal Bulter and Paul McCarthy signed for 75’s and Mark Shanahan is a shot behind on 76.  All three are currently outside the projected cut (72) and will need a good round tomorrow.  Gary Ward is two shots further back.

Draw for Round 2

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Six Cork golfers in East of Ireland Action

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Co LouthSix Cork golfers will start in tomorrow morning’s first round of the East of Ireland.  Munster Strokeplay winner Cathal Butler and Kinsale teammate Gary Ward are in action, as are Mallow duo Paul McCarthy and James Sugrue.  Mark Shanahan (Castlemartyr) and John Hickey (Cork) are also playing.

Introduced by Co Louth Golf Club in 1941, the first East of Ireland was won by Joe B Carr, who Continue reading →

Dooley & Higgins Qualify for PGA Professional Championship

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DAvid Higgins PGA CShip

David Higgins pictures at the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship qualifer (Picture: Patrick Bolger/Getty)

Padraig Dooley and David Higgins are both headed for The Oxfordshire in July to take part in the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship.  The Irish qualifier took place today in Carton House and both qualified for the second successive year.  Dooley finished in a tie for fourth place on +1, but Waterville’s Higgins shot an amazing nine under 63 to finish five shots ahead of the field.

 

David Higgins produced a dominant display, he carded an impressive nine under par round of 63 at the Co Kildare venue to win by an impressive five shots ahead of Clontarf Golf Club’s Eamonn Brady.  Higgins made five birdies on the front nine holes – with three in successive holes – to book a return to the £78,000 showpiece final being held The Oxfordshire course from July 26-29.

Results: PGA Professional Championship – Irish Qualifier

Order of Merit Race Heats Up

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Munster Strokeplay Championship 2016

Gary O’Flaherty

Gary O’Flaherty’s performances in Castletroy, Cork and Ballybunion this month will have moved him up the Munster Senior Order of Merit.  There are four automatic places in the team from the Order of Merit, and three of them look like going to Cathal Butler, Andrew McCormack and Gary O’Flaherty.  Mark Shanahan, John Hickey and James Sugrue are all battling for the last automatic place, as are Waterford duo Eanna Griffin and Robin Dawson.  There are plenty of points on offer over the coming weeks.  The East of Ireland takes place next week and the Tralee Scratch Cup, the Connacht Strokeplay and the British Amateur all take place in June.  Captain Phil Cooney will have a tough job selecting his four picks as all of the above along with Pat Murray, Ian O’Rourke, Peter O’Keeffe and Continue reading →