Fota win Barton Shield

July 20, 2023July 20, 2023 / niall@corkgolfnews.com

Sean Barry and John Doyle sheltering from the rain during the AIG Barton Shield in Dungarvan.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Fota Island captured their first Golf Ireland pennant in Dungarvan at the weekend, they came through four matches to win the Munster East Area Final. The Cork side had an impressive win over Macroom on Saturday morning, and they had a similar win over hosts Dungarvan in the afternoon. Going with the pairings of Sean Barry & John Doyle and Keith Crowley & David Howard they came through the first two matches to reach the semi-finals.

Gallery: AIG Barton Shield 2023, Munster East

With John Doyle unavailable due Continue reading →

Scratch Cup Wins for O’Neill, Howard and O’Flaherty

May 18, 2023May 24, 2023 / niall@corkgolfnews.com

There were three Cork winners over the weekend, David Howard and Gary O’Flaherty won scratch cups in East Cork and Muskerry while Karen O’Neill won the Castletroy Scratch Cup.

Four birdies helped first time winner O’Neill to finish one under par in Castletroy, and she was delighted with the win. “To be honest I’m delighted with the win, it’s my first win” said O’Neill after the victory. “I was actually in an accident back in October so I’ve been working hard over the last couple of months to get back playing so I’m delighted. I missed a short one for birdie on 3 then birdied 4 and 7, had a bogey on 9 then birdied 14 and 15. I stumbled over the finish line with bogeys on 17 and 18 but thankfully got it done.”

Next up on the ladies circuit is the Ballybunion Continue reading →

O’Riordan retains Fermoy Crown

May 11, 2023May 24, 2023 / niall@corkgolfnews.com

Dean O’Riordan

A playoff birdie help Dean O’Riordan to retain the Fermoy Scratch Cup last weekend. The home favourite came from two behind after the first round to join a group of three in the playoff, and he won on the first green thanks to a birdie. It was in impressive performance from the holder to win the John Whyte Memorial Cup. A two under par round of 68 in the morning was followed by a four under par round for the afternoon. Finding himself tied with his brother Roy and David Howard, he was the only one to birdie the first playoff hole to win the event. James Walsh took Continue reading →

Muskerry Ford Junior Scratch Trophy

March 12, 2020April 10, 2021 / niall@corkgolfnews.com

David Howard (Fota Island) in action at the Ford Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy last year.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Muskerry are gearing up for their first big event of the season, the Ford Junior Scratch Trophy. Up to three hundred golfers will take part in the two qualifying days which take place on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th of March. The top 64 qualifiers from the two days will win a place in the matchplay draw. From there the qualifiers will face up six rounds of matchplay golf. Starting on Good Friday, three days of competitive golf will produce a worthy winner on Easter Sunday. It’s a unique competition in Irish golf and provides handicap golfers a great opportunity to play in a matchplay tournament. A full timesheet is expected for both qualifying days and bookings can be made through the proshop. Last year’s competition was pretty unique, a Continue reading →

Howard wins Again

June 28, 2019 / niall@corkgolfnews.com

Ford Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy 2019Muskerry Golf Club
Sunday 21st April 2019

David Howard (Fota Island) in action at the Ford Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy recently. Picture: Niall O’Shea

David Howard racked up his second win of the year recently when he captured the Fota Island Junior Scratch Cup. Having won the Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy at the start of the season, Howard was runner up at Fota Island Senior Scratch Cup soon after. The Fota Island member kept up the run of good form this month with a win at his home course. While Fota was in great condition, heavy showers tried to dampen spirits and it certainly made scoring more difficult for everyone. Howard was the best on the day, shooting a three over par 74, one ahead of the field. Despite claiming to have a cold putter he had a few birdies, including a crucial one on the 18th which proved to be the difference. Now playing off a new handicap of 3, it might be the last Junior Scratch Cup for Howard for a while, and the impressive 20 year old has his mind set on lowering his handicap. He featured on the Fota Island Mixed and Senior Cup teams, and this week he’ll be in Junior Cup action in Castlemartyr.

It’s been a Continue reading →

David Howard wins 300 to 1 challenge, Ford Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy

April 21, 2019April 12, 2020 / niall@corkgolfnews.com

David Howard

It started with over 300 golfers, but by 5pm this afternoon there was just one left. David Howard added his name to a famous list of winners at the 50th staging of the famous Ford Junior Scratch Trophy. And in a funny quirk of the draw, the Fota Island golfer beat his dad John in a tight final to win the six round matchplay event. It was a strange setting, having the father and son paired against each other, but some high quality golf from both made for a competitive final, with David coming out on top. The teenager went up a few times in the match only to be pegged back by his Dad. The back nine was decisive with David winning the 13th and 16th to go two up. On the testing 17th, David found the green with a drive an nine iron, and when John couldn’t make birdie the match was over with David coming out on top. Needless to say the 19 year old was delighted with the win. “I’m very happy to win this scratch cup which has such a big name to it, it’s a Continue reading →

Gallery: Ford Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy 2019 – Semi-finals

April 21, 2019April 21, 2019 / niall@corkgolfnews.com

Pictures from the semi-finals in Muskerry: Continue reading →

O’Sullivan’s v Howard’s- the final four, Ford Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy

April 20, 2019April 20, 2019 / niall@corkgolfnews.com

There might be a father & son final tomorrow, or it could be O’Sullivan v O’Sullivan, in any case there are just four left from the 64 starters in the Ford Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy. Fota Island have two golfers left, father and son David and John Howard. David beat Jack Boyd (Muskerry) and David Byrnes (Castletroy) today to advance, while Dad John beat fellow Fota Island member Evan O’Connell this morning, and followed that by beating Muskerry Captain (and former winner) Diarmuid Linehan. Both Howard’s will have their hands full in the morning, they face two people closely linked with Muskerry. Although Mark O’Sullivan is currently a Cork member, he grew up on the course in Muskerry and will no doubt be hoping that local knowledge will help him along the way tomorrow. Adrian O’Sullivan will play John Howard and he’s a lifelong Muskerry member and like Mark, he’ll be hoping that his experience around the Cloghroe links will see him though against his Fota opponent. Play tomorrow morning will get underway at 8am, with the final schedule for 1pm. The ultimate winner will have come through a 300 to 1 challenge, a strokeplay qualifier and six rounds of matchplay to be crowned the Ford Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy Champion 2019.