Round by round results from the matchplay: Continue reading
Favourites though in Irish Junior Foursomes
Seven of the eight qualifiers for the Irish Junior Foursomes took place on Friday, and only one host club made it through to the next round. Most venues had seven clubs battling for the two qualifying spots. In Macroom, Blarney put on a great display of golf to finish five strokes ahead of second placed Muskerry. Mitchelstown edged out North Cork opponents Mallow in Fermoy and in Cobh the form book won out as Continue reading
New handicap rules as qualifying returns
Many clubs will see a return to qualifying conditions this week, and it will mark the start new handicap rules. From January (and in practice this week), the number of upward revisions (+0.1) a golfer can receive will be limited to 10. CONGU announced several changes last November, but the “point 1” is the change that is percieved to have the biggest impact for golfers.
This means that a golfers handicap can only increase by a one shot in 2016. The new rules also take account of handicap reductions and it states that the one shot increase must be measured from your lowest playing handicap Continue reading
Monkstown set for Munster Youths
Monkstown will host the prestigious Munster Youths Open this week and this is another event in a line of high profile events held at the club in recent years. In 2014 they hosted the ILGU National finals over five days and in 2008 they hosted the week long GUI Cups & Shields finals.
Monkstown’s 18th fairway with the water hazard in the foreground. The course will host the Munster Youths from Wednesday to Friday. Picture: Niall O’Shea
Monkstown Captain Carl Toal is really looking forward to the event, especially considering the long run of poor weather endured by golfers locally. “It was a difficult few months where the bad weather was relentless really said the Captain, “and like many courses in the area, we welcome the recent improvement and stretch in the evenings. We are only back to playing 18 holes in the last two or three weeks. The course has stood up well considering the conditions we Continue reading
Butler through to last 16 in West of Ireland
Kinsale’s Cathal Butler had two good wins today to make it through to the last 16 in the West of Ireland Championship. Butler qualified on the cut mark of 82 and had an impressive 4&3 win over Jamie Fletcher this morning. This afternoon he faced Conor O’Rourke from Naas, and he dispatched the Irish International on the 17th, winning 2&1. Butler will have Dermot McElroy tomorrow morning, the Ballymena golfer is the current holder of the West of Ireland title. The NUIM student has entered the Munster Youths which starts in Monkstown on Wednesday, his plans might yet change with the final of the West scheduled for Wednesday also.
Seanie Barry was first on the course this morning, he had the tough challenge of playing against Sean Flanagan from Co Sligo. As well as being a local Flanagan was the leading qualifier. Barry matched Flanagan for most of the round in a very entertaining match. He eventually lost out to Flanagan on the 18th.
Mark Shanahan got off to a good start this morning and was leading by 2 at the turn. Play went against him however and he lost to Ben Best on the 18th. Niall Gorey was a withdrawal this morning due to a shoulder injury and is likely to be out for a few weeks. Ian O’Rourke also lost out in the first round, he lost out to Intervarsity Champion Alex Gleeson on the 17th.
Teenager Leonard claims Ford Junior Scratch Trophy
Sean Leonard discussing options with Clem Leonard. Pic: Niall O’Shea
Mitchelstown teenager Sean Leonard won the Ford Junior Scratch Trophy in Muskerry this afternoon, completing Cork’s toughest test in golf. Leonard won all six of his matchplay games over the past three days to win the famous trophy.
This morning he beat Muskerry’s Michael O’Callaghan and this afternoon he beat another Muskerry man, Bernard Twomey. Leonard had a good start, going three up after 8 holes, but Twomey cut the deficit to just one hole by the time they had reaches the 13th tee. Leonard hit back with some very impressive golf, and won the next three holes to close out the match on the 14th, winning on a scoreline of 4&3.
Gallery: Ford Junior Scratch Trophy Semi-Finals
Gallery: Ford Junior Scratch Trophy 2016, Muskerry Golf Club
Pictures from Sunday’s semi-finals matches, Ford Junior Scratch Trophy: Continue reading
Five Cork golfers through in Rosses Point
Mark Shanahan, Cathal Butler and Seanie Barry, Ian O’Rourke and Niall Gorey all made the cut for the matchplay stage of the West of Ireland Championship. 40mph winds this afternoon forced a suspension in play and the inability to continue led to the cancellation of the second strokeplay round. The tournament committee had a tough decision and decided to make the matchplay draw based on the first round only.
Mark Shanahan and Paul McCarthy had made the good weather on Saturday morning, they both returned 73’s to put themselves in a good position. McCarthy was one of those adversely affected by the cancellation of Round 2, his 73 this morning to see him provisionally in 21st place with half of the second round scores in. McCarthy’s first round 84 meant that he finished in 85th place and two shots outside the cut mark. Cork’s John Hickey also finished on 84, two shots outside the cut.
Sean Barry (Fota Island) was the 64th and final golfer to make the cut, he’ll face leading qualifier Sean Flanagan from Co Sligo in the first game tomorrow.
West of Ireland Matchplay Draw
Down to final 8 golfers in Muskerry
The Round of 16 was completed this morning and only 8 golfers remain in the hunt for the Ford Junior Scratch Trophy. There were several more tight matches with three of the eight matches going to the 19th. Muskerry have two golfers left in the competition and Cork are guaranteed a semi-finalist as Jack O’Flynn faces Kevin O’Connell.
Ford Junior Scratch Trophy Quarter Finals:
Bernard Twomey (Muskerry) v Kevin Byrne (East Cork)
Jack O’Flynn (Cork) v Kevin O’Connell (Cork)
Sean Leonard (Monkstown) v Jack Heffernan (Doneraile)
Michael O’Callaghan (Muskerry) v Desmond O’Regan (Mahon)
Round 3 Results:
Gallery: Intervarsity Staff Championship
Pictures from the Intervarsity Staff Championship held in Cork GC on Thursday: Continue reading
