Gary O’Flaherty is a fan of Lee Valley, and it’s easy to see why. The Cork Golf Club stalwart has racked up four wins at the Ovens venue, including three scratch cup titles. The Boylesports Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup returns in two weeks time and excitement is building for the challenging 54 hole event. With two consecutive wins, O’Flaherty is on for a historic hat-trick, and will be the man to beat. Outside of his natural skill, Gary maintains that the secret to his success in Lee Valley is quite simple: “It just seems to fit my eye, horses for courses as they say.” But Gary adds that it’s not just the course that make the scratch cup a special event. “It’s from the minute you arrive at Lee Valley, you’re made to feel welcome, nothing is an issue” explained Gary. You’re looked after like your one of their own members. The Keohane family especially, as well as the members Continue reading
Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup Winners
Roll of Honour, Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup: Continue reading
Donal McDonnell wins Fota Island Senior Scratch Cup
Donal McDonnell was the winner on Sunday, picking up his first Senior Scratch Cup title. Fota Island held their annual showpiece on Sunday, again in association with Top Golfer. There was a full timesheet for the event on the Deerpark course, and the three time Irish Open venue proved itself yet again as nobody could break par. Although the course was in great condition, it did play all of it’s 6,927 yards. Donal McDonnell from Monkstown was the winner after four players tied on 73. McDonnell took the title ahead of John O’Brien (Castlemartyr), Kieran Kennedy (Thurles) and David Howard (Fota Island). The Monkstown golfer is a regular on Monkstown’s successful Senior Cup team and has a provincial winners medal, Donal is also Junior Officer in Monkstown. This was his first senior scratch cup title and needless to say he was delighted with his win. Although he was four over par at the turn, McDonnell put together a great back nine. He shot two under for the second nine, and finished 3,3,4 which was crucial in terms of his placing for the countback. Although the top four were tied, John O’Brien took second place, Kennedy was third and David Howard was fourth. Howard had a busy weekend, on Saturday the four handicapper shot a 75 in Muskerry in the Ford Junior Scratch Trophy qualifier, and on Sunday he beat his handicap by two when he shot the 73. Anyone looking to play Fota this week can take advantage of their Masters Week specials, full details are available from the pro shop.
McSweeney leads Ford Junior Scratch Qualifiers
Over 300 golfers played in Muskerry over Friday and Saturday, trying to get a place in the top 64 for the Ford Junior Scratch Trophy. Former winner John McSweeney led the qualifiers with a one over par 72. The 2003 winner was tied with Ed Hayes on Friday as the lowest qualifier. Sean Deasy from Douglas was the best on Saturday, he also shot 72 gross to finish in the top three.
Ford Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy Draw 2019
Holder Liam Harte Jnr is also safely through to the matchplay stage, the two time winner will have his eyes on a third title. In all there are 22 clubs represented, with Limerick and Tipperary golfers included. It’s the home club that dominate however with 19 golfers in the matchplay field. 31 golfers came through from the Friday qualifier with 33 from the slightly larger field on Saturday. This is the 50th staging of the event which was first held in 1970, and the top 64 now go though to the matchplay stage. This makes it a unique event for handicap golfers. The first Continue reading
Ford Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy Draw 2019
Fionn wins in East Cork
On Saturday Fionn Hickey claimed his second scratch cup when he won the East Cork Senior Scratch Cup. The 16 year old came away with the title after beating Kinsale’s Mark Healy on the countback. A birdie on Hickey’s final hole (15th) proved crucial in the end after both golfers shot a 70 (+1). Fermoy’s Dean O’Riordan took third place with a 71. The first nett prize went to Bandon’s Michael O’Neill with a 68, while East Cork’s Kieran O’Brien was second nett with 69. The scratch cup was sponsored by McGuirks and was the first of a few events that will mark the club’s 50th anniversary.
East Cork Senior Scratch Cup, sponsored by McGuirks
- Fionn Hickey (Muskerry) 70
- Mark Healy (Kinsale) 70
- Dean O’Riordan (Fermoy) 71
- Michael O’Neill (Bandon) 68 – Best Nett
- Kieran O’Brien (East Cork) 69 Second Nett
Sugrue the best of Cork in Co Sligo
James Sugrue
James Sugrue is the best of the Cork golfers at the halfway stage of the West of Ireland Championship in CO Sligo Golf Club. The Mallow man shot a two under par 69, helped along the way with an eagle on the back nine. Sugrue started smartly with an opening birdie but a seven on the par five 3rd hole set him back. He recovered with a birdie on the fifth and his eagle on the 12th brought him back into the red. Added to his opening 72, Sugrue is on -1 at the halfway stage – tied for fourth place. He’s four shots behind joint leaders Caolan Rafferty and Max Kennedy.
Mel Deasy added another 73 today to finish +4 in a tier for 30th place. The leading qualifier was three over after his front nine, but came back in one under to match yesterday’s score.
They are the only two golfers inside the top 50, the cut line after tomorrow’s third round. Greg O’Mahony and Gary Ward are just one shot outside the top 50 on +8 (T56) while Sean Desmond is a shot further back, currently placed T76. It was another tough day for Peter O’Keeffe, he shot a 78 which makes qualifying for Sunday a big ask. Cathal Butler also suffered after a horrendous front nine, which put paid to his chances. Kieran Murphy, Keith Fitzpatrick, Padraig O’Connor and Eric Rumley are all outside hopes for making it through to Sunday, but they do have one more round at the famous links to post a memorable score.
Hickey on top at Europro Tour QSchool
John Hickey
John Hickey gave his pro career a huge boost this week, finishing top in the stage one qualifier at the Portal Championship golf resort near Chester. Rounds of 66 and 74 saw the Cork Golf Club member finish on -6 on the par 73 layout. Yesterday was a great day for John, he had seven birdies and no bogies to take a lead and give himself a great chance of qualifying for the next stage. Frost delayed the start this morning and challenging weather conditions. Hickey was two voer for the day through six holes, but he was back on level par at the turn. Another few bogies and birdies followed and John signed for a 73 (+1) to finish joint first with Gian-Marco Petrozzi. Conor O’Rourke (Naas) was third, just two behind Hickey after shooting a very impressive 69 today.
Despite the frost and challenging weather Hickey was focused on the task at hand. “I was about halfway through my warm up when I got my text basically when I got there it was just about trying to deal with the conditions the best I could. And try and play the steady golf as possible try not to try and do anything crazy, play lots Continue reading
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