Mairead Martin called into Irish Action

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Mairead Martin has been given her chance in Finland. Photo: Thos Caffrey / Golffile.

Cork will have two Irish internationals in action in Finland this week.  Mairead Martin has been called into the Irish team  for the European Ladies’ Team Championship following Áine Donegan’s US Open heroics.

Donegan was due to join Sara Byrne, Beth Coulter, Anna Foster, Kate Lanigan and Jessica Ross at Tawast Golf & Country Club in Finland next week but will instead continue her push for silverware after she made the cut at Pebble Beach.

Kanturk’s Martin was a recent nine-shot winner of the Ballybunion Ladies’ Scratch Cup, and the University of Louisville graduate now has a huge chance to make her mark on the big stage.

“With Áine progressing so well at Pebble Beach it’s a wonderful opportunity for Mairead to showcase her skills at the European Championships in Helsinki,” said Golf Ireland High Performance Director Neil Manchip.

Top ten for Byrne on LET Access Debut

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Sara Byrne (Douglas) 
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Sara Byrne made an impressive debut on the LET Access Series last week, the recently crowned Irish Close champion finished in the top ten at the Vasteras Open in Sweden.  Byrne opened with a one under par 71 to be tied for fifth place, and two rounds of 72 saw her finish in 6th place and the second highest ranked amateur.

Byrne has travelled to Sweden to get some experience of pro tour golf, and she will be in action in Upsala again this week in the Capio Ogon Trophy.  Byrne earned over 100 Continue reading →

Murphy retains Munster Boys title

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Jack Murphy (Douglas) pictured during the Irish Boys Close Championship at Monkstown Golf Club. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Douglas golfer Jack Murphy created a little bit of history last week, he became the first person to retain the Munster Boys title in 50 years.  The defending champion picked up his first win of the season in Tipperary Golf Club thanks to some impressive play in the 54 hole event.

After an uneventful opening round, Murphy shot the low round of the event with a five under par 67 to take him two shots clear of the field going into the final round.  But he didn’t have it all his own way and found himself two behind the local Donnacha Cleary halfway through the front nine.  Four birdies took the holder clear of the challenger and Murphy Continue reading →

Woodbrook win for Peter O’Keeffe

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Peter O’Keeffe (Douglas) Picture: Niall O’Shea

Peter O’Keeffe got back to winning ways last Sunday.  O’Keeffe set a course record on his way to winning the Pinergy Woodbrook Scratch Cup in an impressive performance over 36 holes.  O’Keeffe ended up six shots clear of the field, his Irish teammate Rob Brazill finished in second place on -4.

The Walker Cup panel member shot a course record 65 in his first round.  That included five birdies and an eagle on his way to shooting a seven under par 65. That left him four shots clear of the field going into the second round.  O’Keeffe produced another great round in the afternoon, he ended up three under and was the only golfer to break 70.  After opening with two birdies Peter went on to drop a shot on the sixth to go out in one under.  He had another three birdies and one bogey on the back nine to sign for a 69 and win the event in style.

Kinsale’s ProShop Challenge Returns

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Kinsale’s ProShop Challenge returns in August and the fourball challenge will have a new golfer, former Irish Rugby hooker and captain Rory Best.  The Ulster man is a brand ambassador for Arachas Insurance, and he will team up with Arachas backed golfer John Murphy to take on Ger Broderick and Ian Stafford.  This will be the fifth staging of the event with started in 2016, and the event makes a welcome return after missing 2020 due to covid.  John Murphy has been on the challenger team each of the four years, his tour schedule in 2021 and 2022 made it difficult to get a date, but the 2023 event is now scheduled for Thursday 10th August.

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This year’s event has a poignant link to the first ProShop Challenge from 2016, the 2023 event is in memory of Darragh Ryan.  Darragh was a nephew of Continue reading →

UCC GS win on the double

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The UCC Staff Golf Society did a rare double recently, winning the 2023 Intervarsity Trophy.  Having won in St Margaret’s in Dublin in 2022, the society did a rare double with a win last month in Athenry.

Atlantic Technological University were the hosts this year and Athenry Golf Club was in great condition to host the tournament. As usual there were 9 teams taking part in the competition; Atlantic Technological University, University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, National University of Ireland, Galway, University College Dublin, Dublin City University, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Munster Technology University, Technological University of the Shannon.

Each team had ten members and the UCC Team members were society President Eddie McCarthy who played with Dan Walsh.  Captain Aileen Finn played with Maria Carroll, Maurice Conway played with Pat Quinn, Frank Morrissey played with Dr Owen Jump, Barry O’Brien played with Conor McCarthy.  UCC won by a margin of Continue reading →