David Howard

Darragh Murphy leads Muskerry Qualifiers

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Muskerry Golf Club
Picture: Niall O’Shea

The qualifier for the Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy took place recently with well over 200 players hoping to claim a top 64 spot and entry into the match play stage. The qualifier was held over two days, with Darragh Murphy shooting a very impressive 69 to top the qualifiers. Murphy was the only golfer to break par; he played on the Saturday and had three shots to spare over the nearest challenger.

Olan Buckley, Clem Leonard, Colin Sheehan and David Kelly all returned scores of 72, with Luke Merriman and Phelim Cotter finishing with 73. Thirty-seven golfers qualified from the second day of play, with five golfers scoring 78 to make the match Continue reading →

Howard and Doyle to lead Irish Brabazon Challenge

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David Howard is heading for the Brabazon Trophy next week.
©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

The Fota Island duo of David Howard and John Doyle are part of an eight-strong Golf Ireland squad travelling to take part in the Brabazon Trophy next week.

Howard came with a late run to almost force a play-off as Patrick Keeling took the honours in a thrilling finish at the Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open Championship in Seapoint last Sunday.

Doyle featured in a Junior Ryder Cup and Amgen Irish Open last year and will make the trip Continue reading →

Doyle wins BoyleSports Lee Valley Scratch Cup in Style

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John Doyle pictured with tournament director Vincent Drinan and Peter Tuite from BoyleSports.  Pic: Niall O’Shea

John Doyle claimed his first win of the season in fine style when he won the Boylesports Scratch Cup by five strokes. The Mitchelstown man was two ahead going into the final round and, while his lead narrowed to one shot early on, his steady approach allowed him to kick on and take control on the back nine.

John started the final round on -10, two ahead of his Fota Island team-mate and first-round leader, David Howard, who was keen to retake the lead. The pair traded pars for the opening few holes, and it looked like Doyle would extend his lead when Howard had to pitch out from the trees on the 7th. Howard bounced back with a great Continue reading →

Howard golfing for 65 Roses

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David Howard, Iin action at the rish Mid-Amateur, Rosslare Golf Club, ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

David Howard, the 25 year old Irish International Golfer is taking part in the Cystic Fibrosis 65 Rose Challenge this month, but instead of running or jogging 65 kilometres in February, he’s planning to cover 65km on the golf course while playing.

Howard has Cystic Fibrosis and is while the illness isn’t holding him back, he is acutely aware of the impact it has on many people in Ireland.  He is joining their 65 Roses Challenge this month in an effort to raise funds and draw awareness to the campaign.  And he’s planning to do it on the golf Continue reading →

2025 a year to remember

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

2025 proved to be a year to remember for Cork golf, with several notable successes in the bag.  Douglas, Monkstown and Lee Valley all won green national pennants, and there were notable individual successes as well.

Douglas did a rare double, winning the AIG Senior Cup in the Women’s and Men’s, taking full advantage of the status as hosts for the AIG Inter-Club finals at the end of August.  Monkstown travelled to Northern Ireland and came home as winners of the AIG Junior Cup, and Lee Valley won their Girls Inter-Club title in Donabate in August.

It was a breakout year for John Doyle, the Mitchelstown teenager started the season in style with wins at the Irish Boys and the Munster Continue reading →

Howard bids to cap breakthrough year with North crown

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David Howard in action at the Irish Mid-Amateur Men’s & Women’s Open Championship
 ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

David Howard is aiming to cap off his breakthrough year with another top performance as the Fota Island golfer targets a second championship crown of 2025 at the North of Ireland Men’s Amateur Open Championship, which returns to Portstewart this week for the first time since 2019.

The world-renowned Strand Course will welcome 120 competitors from across Ireland, the UK and Europe, with play beginning on Wednesday morning.

The field is set to face 36 holes across the opening two days before the top 36 plus ties advance to Friday’s final rounds.

Having committed himself full-time to golf in the past couple of years, Howard has reaped the benefits of a more dedicated schedule, most notably this season when the 26-year-old was crowned East of Ireland champion at Continue reading →

Howard earns Ireland call up following South performance

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David Howard had another good week on Golf Ireland’s Bridgestone Tour.  He reached the final 16 of the South of Ireland on Saturday, and in doing he looks to have earned selection on the Irish team for the upcoming Home Internationals.

Howard, who won his first major event in Baltray last month at the East of Ireland, backed up his impressive stroke play performance with six positive rounds in Lahinch.  The 26 year old opened with a lack lustre 75, the three over par round put him outside the top 80 with a second 18 holes to come.  The round could have been worse – after 10 holes Howard was five over but two late birdies gave him something to fight for.

Howard returned on Thursday afternoon and things didn’t improve when he was one over after nine.  The back nine again proved critical as 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 →

Exciting 2025 ahead for Cork Golf

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Cork Golf Club which wil host a number of national events in 2025. Pic: Niall O’Shea

2025 promises to be a busy and exciting year for Cork golfers and Cork golf clubs.  Golf Ireland launched the 2025 calendar recently and four Cork courses will host important events in the months ahead.

Cork Golf Club will host four major events in a busy year for the club.  In addition to the Munster Stroke Play which has been held on the May Bank Holiday weekend for over a decade, the Little Island club will also host the Flogas Irish Boys Amateur Open and the Boys Home Internationals.  The club will also host the Women’s Cork Scratch Cup in early April.

Cork has a habit of being a winning venue for golfers who went on to greatness and with Irish Boys Captain watching over the field, he will be hoping for another winner with star potential when it comes to the Irish Boys.  The last big winner in Cork was Shane Lowry, he  won the Irish Close Championship when it was last held in Cork in 2007.  Lowry beat local favourite Niall Turner in the final to claim his first Irish title.  He went on to win the West and North, and the Mullingar Scratch Cup the following year, before winning the Continue reading →

Howard wins Clutch Tour Card

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David Howard has secured a tour card for 2025 for the UK based Clutch Pro Tour.  The Fota Island golfer, who finished in the top ten on the Bridgestone Order of Merit this year entered the event after being told about the qualifier by PGA Professional Brian Kelleher.  With the Irish championship season over, Howard headed off to Mannings Heath outside London for the 54 hole qualifier on what is effectively Europe’s third tier of professional tour golf.  He ended up finishing in the top twenty, earning tour status for next year.

“I had two weeks notice, Brian sent me on a link qualifier so I booked it off the back of the East Continue reading →