James Sugure finished in the top 15 at final qualifying for The Open at St Anne’s Old Links on Tuesday. The Mallow golfer has had a busy two weeks, covering the British Amateur, playing Senior Cup for Mallow in Cork Golf Club, and then playing Co Louth, Rosapenna, and St Annes in quick succession. With only three spots available for the Open, qualification was always against the odds, and Sugrue found himself four over after his opening nine holes. He recovered two shots on the back nine to finish the opening round on +3. James got his second round off to a blistering start, with four birdies in his first five holes. He dropped a few shots in the middle of the round but finished strongly, closing with two birdies and an eagle. A second round 67 saw him jump over twenty places, in fact Sugrue had nine birdies and an eagle in his final 27 holes. Speaking after the qualifier, James cited the lack of a practice round as a critical reason for the difference between both rounds.
Sugrue through to Final Qualifying for 147th Open
It’s been an interesting few weeks for Sugrue, he made it to the last 32 in the British Amateur but missed on the Irish team for the European Team Championships. He bounced back by shooting a 64 in Co Louth in regional qualifying for the Open and he finished 25th in a strong field in Rosapenna last weekend during the Irish Open qualifier. Sugrue will no doubt be hoping to convert his current form into a win, and push for selection on the Irish team for the Home Internationals. With the North of Ireland taking placee next week in Royal Portrush and the South of Ireland in Lahinch later in July where Sugrue is the reigning champion, there will be plenty of opportunities for the young Mallow man.
There was great news in Kinsale Golf Club earlier this week when John Murphy became the latest Corkman to earn full Irish honours. He has been selected in the six-man Irish team to compete in the European Amateur Team Championship in Germany in two weeks’ time. Murphy was almost a certain pick given his recent form. He won the St Andrews Links Trophy earlier this month, and last week he reached the quarter-finals of The Amateur Championship in Royal Aberdeen.
Cian McNamara and James Sugrue have a solid chance of making the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open after the opening round of the Rosapenna qualifier. McNamara shot a three under par round of 69 to lie in 4th place at the halfway stage. After a bogey on the 5th he came back in four under par, with a final birdie on the 17th to get himself back into contention. James Sugrue is two shots back on -1, and currently in 10th place. Sugrue had an interesting round, made up of seven birdies and six bodies. irrespective of what happens tomorrow both golfers will travel to the UK from Donegal to take part in final qualifying for the British Open.
Eoghan Cassidy become the latest Kinsale winner, the teenager won the Connacht Boys U14 Championship in Loughrea today. Cassidy shot a 75 to tie the lead, winning the title on the countback. The five handicapper has shown plenty of promise, the fact that he’s still eligible at U13 level underlines his achievement today. Cassidy’s best previous finish was third in the Munster Under 14 Boys Championship, held in Kanturk last year.
While there are thousands of Cork people who have just completed exams, it was a different time for Davey Barry as he got word that he had passed his final PGA exams, meaning he has now a qualified teaching professional. The Douglas based Pro had been working hard for the past three years, combining work in the pro shop with his studies, but Davey is delighted that he now joins the PGA as a full member. “It’s fantastic to have finished the course. It’s a lot of work and long hours but it’s a great feeling to have gotten here” said Davey. “It was a long journey for me, I had to do some extra exams before I started the course, it was well worth it though. This is something that I’ve always wanted to do since I was young, and it’s a career that can 
Mallow’s James Sugrue has an opportunity to qualify for the British Open in Carnoustie, he booked his place in final qualifying for the British Open today when he shot an eight under par 64 in Baltray to lead the regional qualifying event. Sugrue started with two birdies and he as four under at the turn. Not content with that he birdied 11, 12 and 16, and he closed with another birdie on the par five 18th in a flawless round. With fellow Mallow Senior Cup golfer Conor Dowling on the bag with him, Sugrue beat the field by four shots to claim the first of seven final qualifying spots available. It was a consolation of sorts for Sugrue, he narrowly missed on selection for the Irish team to compete in the European Championships in two weeks’ time. In any case, he’ll now be playing in the 
