Clarke & Keelan’s Solheim Story

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Solhein 2019_1

Simon Keelan and Roy Clarke ready to go at the Solheim Cup on Friday

The Solheim Cup is over for another two years, and while it was a great weekend for ladies golf with an exciting win for Team Europe, there was a Cork link with two of the team caddies coming from Douglas.  Roy Clarke and Simon Keelan are long time tour caddies on the LPGA and LET tours.  The pair  played junior golf together on several Mahon and Douglas teams, and while they were back together in Gleneagles, they were on opposing sides.  Clarke was on the bag for US star Jessica Korda while Keelan was working with Europe’s Caroline Masson.  Not only were the pair on opposing teams, in a strange coincidence their golfers faced up against each other in the opening foursomes on Friday, and again in the singles on Sunday.  They were both winners of sorts, Korda won the two head to head matches and Europe won the overall title, giving both Keelan and Clarke something from the showpiece event.  Keelan is back caddying after a spell working in the exclusive Hogs Head resort in Waterville, and the Douglas man was delighted that Masson was selected for the pinnacle team event in Ladies Golf.  “I’m not sure where to start, I came over with the team five weeks ago when the picks were Continue reading →

Top ten for Murphy in US Season Opener

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South of Ireland 2019

John Murphy

John Murphy opened his 2019/20 college season with a flourish last weekend, scooping a top ten finish in the opening tournament of the year.  Murphy shot rounds of 71, 66, 76 in the Roy Myers Invitational which took place at Duke University.  Four birdies and three bogies made up Murphy’s opening round on Saturday morning, and later that day he returned a blistering 66 which tied the lowest score of the tournament.  The 66 got off to a steady start, the Louisville golfer was level par after four with two birdies and two bogies.  A birdie four on the ninth saw him turn on one under.  He had a hot hand on the back nine though, he was five under for the five holes from the 11th to the 15th.  That included three birdies and an eagle as he finished the back nine with three pars to sign for a six under score.

That 66 in the second round saw Murphy lead the event going Continue reading →

O’Brien sends Ireland through to European Seniors Final, Lyons selected for Seniors Home Internationals

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Bornemann O'Brien Denmark SeniorsIreland had a super win against hosts Denmark in semi-final of the European Seniors today.  In a match that went all the way to the wire Ireland ended up on the right side of the result after one additional hole.  Alan Condren won with a few to spare and Steven Graham won on the 18th.  Karl Bornemann & Jim Carvill lost their foursomes match on the 17th, and Peter Sheehan also lost his singles match. With four matches in the score was 2-2, meaning O’Brien’s match would decide the outcome.  The Castlemartyr member was one down after 15, and despite winning the 16th the momentum shifted when he lost 17 to a birdie.  With the pressure of the match on him, O’Brien birdied the last to extend the match.  On the 19th, he calmly slotted a ten foot putt to send Ireland through to tomorrow’s final.  It’s been a great week for O’Brien on his international debut, and his form has been matched by his teammates who also have been very solid all week.  Ireland now face England tomorrow in the final.

Munster Seniors Amateur Open 2019Killarney Golf Club Wednesday 18th June 2019

Pat Lyons

Pat Lyons has been included in the Irish team for the Seniors Home Internationals later this month, making it three Cork golfers in the seven man team.  It’s a first international call up for the Cork Golf Club member, and his selection Continue reading →

Irish Seniors take top qualifying spot at European Championships

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69442768_934162053596576_572304216098340864_nKarl Bornemann and John O’Brien both finished in the top twenty in Denmark today, helping Ireland to finish in pole position at the European Seniors Team Championship.  The 36 hole strokeplay qualifier took place at Rungsted GC, with the Cork duo playing well to help Ireland to qualify safely in the top flight.

Bornemann posted a level par 72 today to finish on +4 while O’Brien added a 73 to his opening 73 to close on +3.  Bornemann will now partner Jim Carvill in Ireland’s opening match against Germany while O’Brien has been selected for singles duty.  Ireland as top seeds take on 8th placed Germany in the quarter-finals, with the winners going on to Friday’s semi-final.  Ireland last won the European Championship in 2017 when Bornemann made his debut and the team was captained by Sean O’Leary.

 

Monkstown & East Cork taste success

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monkstown team 2019 Intermediate Cup

The Monkstown Golf Club team who won the intermediate cup in the AIG ILGU Cups and Shields Munster finals at the Lee Valley Golf Club & Country Club, Ovens, Co Cork. Included are Hilary Harte, team manager and Carol Murphy, captain of the ladies club with team members Sue McGuire, Fabienne Moloney, Grace Coakley, Liz Whitaker, Marian Reidy, Mary Egan and Martina McCarthy.   Picture Pat Cashman

Monkstown tasted success at the ILGU District finals in Lee Valley last Sunday, winning the Munster Final of the Intermediate Cup.  Mary Egan led the charge from the front winning her match 3&2, while Liz Whitaker and Fabienne Moloney added the required wins.  Grace Coakley and Sue McGuire were the other team members.  In the Challenge Cup final East Cork got the better of Kinsale in an All-Cork derby.  Nora Kelleher and Orla Evans won the first two matches, beating Lucy Carter and Sarah Galvin respectively.  Naomi McCarthy got a point for Kinsale when she beat Geraldine Coughlan but the win was sealed for East Cork when Aileen O’Sullivan beat Ann O’Mahony on the 16th.  Deirdre O’Doherty and Kay Galvin halved their match after they were called in.  East Cork and Monkstown will now go on to the All Ireland finals in Knightsbrook later this month.  Monkstown’s Cashman Trophy team were also in action in a Munster Final on Sunday.  They took on Limerick in Mitchelstown and unfortunately for the Cork side, they came out on the wrong side of the result.  While Monkstown put an early point on the board when Maurice McGrath and Roy Dennehy won, that was about as good as it got for the Cork club.  Limerick brought in the first match thanks to Eamonn Grimes and Pat Lee, with Gavin Cross and Gerard Gleeson also winning.  Hugh Colon and John O’Brien won the fourth match giving Limerick the important third point, and the title.

Gallery: Limerick v Monkstown, Michael Cashman Trophy Munster Final 2019

Bornemann & O’Brien in European Action

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Bornemann O'Brien Denmark SeniorsKarl Bornemann and John O’Brien are both in action today at the European Senior Mens Team Championships in Denmark.  Ireland are among the ten teams in action, hoping to make the top eight after the opening strokeplay qualifier.  John O’Brien is appearing in Irish colours and he was delighted to get the call a few weeks ago.  He’ll tee it up at 8am this morning alongside England’s Paul Wharton and Italy’s Filippo Cleaici.  Bornemann makes a return to the team after playing in Sweden in 2017.  He’s off later on today at 12.50.  The 36 hole strokeplay takes place today and tomorrow, with the matchplay phase beginning on Thursday.  Hopes are high that Ireland will regain the title they last won in 2017.  The competition takes place in Rungsted Golf Club in north east Denmark.

European Senior Men’s Team Championship (Rungsted GC, Denmark; 3-7 September) — Ireland: 
Karl Bornemann (Douglas)
Jim Carvill (Banbridge)
Alan Condren (Greystones)
Steve Graham (East Sussex National)
John O’Brien (Castlemartyr)
Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion)

Captain: Michael Coote (Tralee)
Manager: Matt Donohue (Portumna)

 

 

Bruen Youths title for Egan

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Bruen Youths 2019_Jack Egan_2

David Bruen, presenting the Bruen Youth Cup to Muskerry’s Jack Egan following his win on his home course. Included are Marian Nugent, President, Richie Cahill, representing the Cahill Family, sponsors and Diarmuid Linehan, Captain. Picture: Mike English.

Jack Egan added his name to a list of famous winners on Monday when he won the Bruen Youths.  The Muskerry teen won by four strokes in impressive performance that saw him shoot two under par rounds.  Egan led from the start with an opening 67.  That included  seven birdies and there was a great four of four birdies from the 12th to the 15th.  His opening 67 had him one shot ahead of Eoghan O’Shaughnessy and the Muskerry Fred Daly players were the only two to break par.

In the second round Egan never let go of his lead.  Again he had seven birdies but a couple of bogies meant that he’d sign for a one under par 70.  That was more than enough as the his morning 67 was Continue reading →