Douglas Celebrate Senior Cup and Curtis Cup Successes

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Sara Byrne in action in the Curtis Cup in Sunningdale. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Sara Byrne had a fairytale end to her amateur career, going unbeaten in five sessions and helping GB&I to win the Curtis Cup for the first time since 2016.

The Douglas golfer may have missed out on her club’s AIG Senior Cup win, but she made a lifetime of memories in Sunningdale.  Byrne played in all five sessions and she was the only player to undefeated over the three days.  She had a win and three halves in the opening two days alongside Lottie Woad, and closed out her final round as an amateur with a decisive win.

Team captain Catriona Matthew kept her faith in Byrne and Woad on the Continue reading →

O’Keeffe wins Irish Mid-Am in Tipperary

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Peter O’Keeffe bagged his sixth Irish Championship win last weekend when he won the Irish Mid-Am in Tipperary.  The two time Irish Open Champion already had two Mid-Am titles to his name but he has had a poor 2024 by his own standards.  O’Keeffe has played well in parts this year but struggled to put a few consecutive rounds together.  HE did that over the weekend, and started brightly with a two under par 70 although he did find himself in third place.  A level par second round put O’Keeffe into a tie for the lead after the two ahead of him dropped backwards.

After two rounds O’Keeffe was Continue reading →

Three Wins for Cork Golfers

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There were three good wins for Cork golfers last week, spanning different ages and geographies. The age and geographic gap was notable with winners ranging in age from teenagers to the sixties, and wins in three different places.  Closest to home, Cian McDonnell won the Kerry Boys, Karl Bornemann won the Irish Veterans Close and Justin Dennehy won the Scottish Under 14.

Justin Dennehy has won his fair share of junior golf competitions and he was back on the winning trail last week when the 13-year-old won the inaugural Scottish Under 14 Open Championship.

The youngster posted rounds of 68 and 73 at Dunfermline Continue reading →

Aaron Olden wins Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy

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Aaron Olden (Fota Island) watches his shot during the semi-final of the Ryan’s SuperValu Junior Scratch Trophy at Muskerry Golf Club.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

18 year old Aaron Olden is the winner of the 2024 Ryans SuperValu Junior Scratch Matchplay.  The Fota Island member won six consecutive matches in Muskerry from Friday to Sunday to become the 55th winner of the famous tournament which dates back to 1970.  The Carrigtwohill native came through the qualifier and was hopeful that some good golf would follow.

“I was in good form coming into it, I had a good few low rounds in Muskerry.  In the Munster Boys I shot level par and I had a few good scores at home coming into it” said Aaron.  “It was a great experience and I was relieved.  It was a tough match against Adam and I very thankful to my caddie Donal Cronin who helped me through every shot.  I have to thank Brian Kelleher, Nigel Doyle and all the Fota crowd for supporting me, it was great Continue reading →

Gazi wins in Douglas

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Mark Gazi (Tralee) pictured with Captain Shane Hartnett and Peter O’Keeffe (GolfStrong) after winning the Senior Scratch Cup.
Picture: James Doolan

The Douglas Scratch Cup is in Kerry hands for the first time in nearly thirty years after Mark Gazi won in style on Sunday.  The Tralee teenager shot a second round 65 to win by one shot.

Gazi was on the fringes after an opening 72, he was four shots behind the leader Dean O’Riordan and back in 6th place.  A second round 65 (five under par) not only got him back on track, it put him into a winning position.  After chipping in for birdies on the 18th, he rolled in a six foot birdie putt on his final hole (6th) and that was the difference when Continue reading →

Success for Byrne, Cork, Douglas and Munster Women

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Sara Byrne teeing off the 18th in Lahinch on the final day of the Arnold Palmer Cup

Sara Byrne was one of the stars of the show last weekend as Lahinch hosted the Arnold Palmer Cup.  Byrne, the first Cork player to feature in the annual event which sees 48 top college golfers face off on American and International teams.

Byrne was paired with Max Kennedy for the mixed fourball and mixed foursomes and the pair scored two wins in their matches.  In Sunday’s singles she faced the recent winner of the Women’s Amateur, Melanie Green.  Teeing off from the 1st, there was a huge crowd around the clubhouse to follow Continue reading →

Byrne gets boost for Curtis Cup

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Sara Byrne 
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Sarah Byrne gave her chances of making the 2024 Curtis Cup team a huge boost last week when she made it to the final 32 of the Women’s Amateur.  Portmarnock hosted the event, it was the first time that the women’s amateur was held in the Republic of Ireland, and when Portmarnock held the Amateur Championship in 2019 that was won by Corkman James Sugrue.

Aside from her performance, Byrne was aware of the presence of Curtis Cup Captain Catriona Mathews and the fact she was looking at many of the potential team for Sunningdale at the end of August.  Byrne is hoping Continue reading →

Douglas, Cork and East Cork advance in AIG Senior Cup

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James Walsh (Douglas) in action in the third round of the AIG Irish Senior Cup on Sunday.
Picture: James Doolan

Douglas Golf Club hosted two days of exciting inter-club matches last weekend as two rounds of the AIG Men’s Senior Cup took place.  Eight matches took place on Saturday with the winners coming back in Sunday to play in the next round.

The course in Douglas was in great condition for the event.  Memories of the harsh wet winter and spring faded as golfers played from firm fairways and fast greens.  Both days saw a large number of supporters and spectators out on Continue reading →