Ahern banishes 2024 loss to claim Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy

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Adam Ahern

Adam Ahern is the latest winner of the Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy.  From an original entry list of well over 200 golfers, Adam qualified in the top 64 to qualify for the matchplay stage and the Muskerry man was the last undefeated golfer after six grueling rounds of match play golf over the three days.

The winner was overjoyed to claim one of the most valued trophies in Cork golf, fulfilling a longstanding family quest.  “To be honest I was very relieved to win I guess.  It’s something that maybe my grandfather would always have loved to have won” said Ahern after his win.  “my uncle would have tried a couple of times to win it as well so yeah it’s something that I kind of always want to win as well, especially growing up as a juvenile being a Musk Continue reading →

Brown & Brown to sponsor Irish PGA Championship

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Diarmuid Nolan, CEO of Brown & Brown Ireland, pictured (centre) with Cian McNamara, Head PGA Golf Professional at Monkstown Golf Club; Michael Doorley, Chairman of Monkstown Golf Club; Conor Dillon, Manager of The PGA in Ireland, and Ada O’Sullivan, Former Curtis Cup Captain, R&A Open Championship Committee Member, and Monkstown Golf Club member, at Monkstown Golf Club, Cork, as Brown & Brown (Ireland), one of the country’s leading insurance brokerages, announces that it is the new title sponsor of the 115th Irish PGA Championship, which returns to Munster for the first time since 1997. The Championship will take place from 4–7 August 2025 at Monkstown Golf Club.
Picture: Michael O’Sullivan / OSM PHOTO

With the 2025 Irish PGA Championship set to take place in August, Monkstown Golf Club is making its final preparations to host the prestigious event for the first time in its history.  The club, which has undergone a large scale bunker redevelopment and significant upgrades to its practice facilities, is ensuring that players will experience championship-level conditions when competition begins on August 5th.

Last week the PGA announced Brown & Brown, one of the country’s leading insurance brokerages, has announced that it is the new title sponsor of the 115th Irish PGA Championship.  The tournament, now named The Brown & Brown Irish PGA Championship, marks the event’s return to Munster for the first time since 1997, bringing together Ireland’s top PGA club professionals in a battle for a large prize fund.

The tournament returns to Munster for the first time since 1997, when Paul McGinley claimed victory at Fota Island, and the former Ryder Cup Captain was delighted to see Brown & Brown getting involved.  “I’m thrilled to see Brown & Brown backing Irish golf. It’s a proud and exciting moment for the sport. Having met Diarmuid and the Brown & Brown team through Continue reading →

Strong Performance from Howard in Seapoint

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David Howard

David Howard put another good top level performance in the bank last week with a top ten finish in the Flogas Irish Amateur at Seapoint.  The Fota Island golfer has been in good form this year and his -10 score for four rounds at the Co Louth links included rounds of 70, 68, 72 and a final round 68.

Although he was five shots off the winner, Howard had an impressive haul of 20 birdies which highlights how effective his tee to green game is.  Howard played almost all of the Irish Championships and his efforts were rewarded Continue reading →

Doyle Conquers Cork Again

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John Doyle conquered Cork Golf Club for the second time in two weeks as he came from behind to win the C2O Group sponsored Munster Stroke Play.  Fresh from his win at the Irish Boys, Doyle is now two from two in Little Island.

It was a super weekend for golf in Cork, a strong field took on the Alister MacKenzie signature course which was in great condition.  The 75 strong field including West of Ireland Champion Dylan Holmes (Greystones), Flogas Irish Boys’ Amateur Open Champion John Doyle (Fota Island) and the recently returning Stuart Grehan (Co. Louth).  Holder Paul Coughlan and previous winners Karl Bornemann and Barry Anderson were also in the field.

John Doyle (Fota Island) receiving the Munster Stroke Play trophy from Paul Buckley from C2O Group, sponsors of the tournament.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

From the initial field at the Little Island course on Saturday, just 33 remained by Sunday morning and it was an ever changing leaderboard.  Cork’s Jonathan O’Sullivan led after the opening round with an impressive 69 in windy conditions.  By Saturday afternoon there was a three way tie for the lead, Keith Egan TJ Ford and James O’Rourke were out in front.  Egan in particular impressed with a five under par 67 after a great display of putting.

In the final round it was the 17-year-old Mitchelstown native who would battle his way to the top, taking a one-shot victory in what would be one of the tightest finishes the championship had seen for many years.

Doyle would finish his third-round level par for the tournament, rounds of 72, 71 and 73 leaving him in a Continue reading →

Doyle wins Irish Boys title

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John Doyle (Fota Island) Picture: ©INPHO | Bryan Keane

John Doyle went wire to wire in Cork Golf Club as the Fota Island golfer produced a commanding performance from start to finish on the south coast as he was crowned the 2025 Flogas Irish Boys Amateur Open Champion with a four shot victory.

Having come into the final day with a five-shot lead over his nearest rivals, the 17-year-old showed no signs of letting his advantage slip and although he finished one over par for his final round it was enough to see him take the title in comfortable fashion.

“I’m delighted”, said Doyle.  “I really wanted to win this one ever since it got scheduled that it was on in Cork it was on the list of, I really wanted to win this, and it feels great. It’s kind of sinking in a bit now.”

Doyle opened his championship with a stunning seven under par 65 from the back tees in Little Island.  He followed this with a solid two under par 70 in much tougher conditions on day two, but it was his third and final round where the Cork native showed maturity beyond his years as he plotted his way around the course, opting for the safe play, hitting irons off the tee where required.  Added to his strategic play, Doyle’s power off the tee was also on show, with drives touching almost 350 yards on the 11th and 14th holes.

“Those two days put me in a really good position, kind of took a bit of the stress out of today”, said Doyle on the third day.  “Going in with a bit of a lead you know you can play a little bit more conservative and take a lot of the danger out of some holes.”

William O’Riordan (Greystones) and John William Burke (Ballyhaunis) were Doyle’s closest challengers as the final round got underway but a birdie on the second helped settle any early nerves and extend Continue reading →

McGrath wins Munster Championship

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Macroom’s Bernie McGrath won the Munster Women’s Senior Championship in Shannon last week.  McGrath scored 42 points to finish two clear of the field.  The 16 handicapper went out with 22 points, thanks in part to two four pointers on the 4th and 5th holes.  McGrath had another two 4 pointers on the back nine that helped her to a back nine score of 20 points.  She had just two one pointers in the 18 holes which help her to the winning score.  Sylvie Kenneally from Kinsale was second on 40 points and Shannon’s Jean Murphy was third with 38 points.  Rose Beamish from Fota Island took the over 65 prize with 37 points.

Douglas golfer Shannon Burke got her 2025 season underway in Continue reading →

Sugrue Makes the Most of Oman Chance

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James Sugrue 
Picture: Niall O’Shea

James Sugrue made the most of a good start in his latest event on the Clutch Pro Tour.  The Mallow man was in Oman for the second of three events in the opening swing of the season.  Sugrue had finished down the field in the opening event a week earlier.  Rounds of 70, 68 and 70 didn’t look too bad but he found himself ten shots behind the winner in a tie for 43rd.

The golfer who five years ago played in the Masters Tournament in Augusta went low on the opening day in La Vie.  He carded seven birdies in Continue reading →

James Walsh in action in St Andrews

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James Walsh 
Picture: Niall O’Shea

James Walsh played his first competitive round at the Old Course in St Andrews last week when he was competing in the final of the R&A Student Series.  The Douglas golfer, who has just turned 20 actually led the tournament going into the final round.  At the turn Walsh was still ahead but a disappointing back nine saw him drop a few shots and he finished the 54 hole event in 5th place.

That is Walsh’s fourth top ten finish in the series that has seen him play in England, Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Scotland.  Walsh is in first year Continue reading →

Handicaps Changes for 2025

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As we head towards the start of April, many golfers will be welcoming the harder ground – and the return of counting competitions.  Winter golf in almost all courses has been non-counting for handicap purposes and golfer may see a change in their playing handicap once counting competitions return next month.

While a golfer’s handicap index is tied to their playing record, the playing handicap is determined by the difficulty of the course and the allowance provided in the competition.  For the past four years, the allowance for a singles competition was set at 95%, but clubs will now have the option to change the allowance.  In singles counting competitions, the current 95% allowance for Playing Handicaps can be increased to 100%, or it can be Continue reading →

Cope Alliance has another bumper year

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The Cope Golf Alliance recently celebrated another great year when they presented a cheque for over €40,000 to Cope Foundation following their 2024 season.  The full amount was €41,500 and that means in the past 48 years the Alliance has raised over €1.7million for one of Cork’s favourite charities.

Cope Foundation, which recently changed it’s name to Horizons has provided support to people with an intellectual disability or autism, and currently supports over 2,800 people.  The charity has an annual fundraising target of over €1m so the contribution from golf alliance each year is a source the charity can depend on.

There are close to 500 members of the Alliance and membership is Continue reading →