Gary O’Flaherty

Rain stops play in Lahinch, seven Cork golfers through to matchplay

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Lahinch LogoThe second round in Lahinch came to an abrupt halt today as heavy rain flooded the course causing the second strokeplay round to be abandoned.  With the first round scores counting, the top 64 cut fell at +2 with not all on that score qualifying.  Kinsale’s Eric Rumley was one of those to miss out, the countback from yesterday costing him a place in the matchplay.

The seven Cork qualifiers are James Sugrue (Mallow), Cathal Butler (Kinsale), Gary O’Flaherty (Cork), John Hickey (Cork), Peter O’Keeffe (Douglas), Sean Desmond (Monkstown), Gary Ward (Kinsale).  With drier weather forecast for tomorrow the organisers will be hoping to complete the two planned rounds.  The first round Continue reading →

Super 66 from Sugrue at the South

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AIG Senior Cup Area Semi Finals 2018Cork Golf Club Sunday 24th June 2018

James Sugrue

Defending Champion James Sugrue was among the pace-setters in Lahinch today as he marched around the famous links.  The Mallow man had six birdies and no bogies, he was two under at the turn and came back in four under par thanks to more birdies at the 10th, 12th, 13th and 18th.  It’s been a few decades since anyone has retained the South of Ireland, and while James will not be of Sunday afternoon just yet – it does mean he’s still holding the form that saw him feature in several competitions in June and July.  Sugrue is in third place after Mark Power and Reece Black posted rounds of 65.  With the 36 hole strokeplay cut (top 64) currently around the +2 mark, it looks like all three golfers will just need a level par round or slightly worse tomorrow to book a place in the matchplay phase.

 

AIG Senior Cup Area Semi Finals 2018Cork Golf Club Sunday 24th June 2018

Cathal Butler

Kinsale’s Cathal Butler set the early pacewith a four under par round of 68.  That was despite being two over after his opening three holes.  It was a good day for several Cork golfers, Gary O’Flaherty joined Butler on 68 and John Hickey was two shots back on 70.

Gary Ward, Peter O’Keeffe and Sean Desmond are all in the clubhouse on level par, their currently in the top 40 and another similar round tomorrow should see them advance Continue reading →

Win No 3 for O’Flaherty in Lee Valley

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Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup 2018, Lee Valley Golf Club. Final Round, Saturday 22nd April 2018

Gary O’Flaherty, winner of the Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup for the third time. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Gary O’Flaherty claimed his third Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup title today when he shot a steady level par round to maintain his lead and take the title.  Starting with a two shot lead, many would have thought O’Flaherty would have needed a 70 or better.  But the weather conditions in Lee Valley hampered everyone, and while the course was in great condition the harsh wind played a big role.  Gary’s lead went to three after the second hole when Ronan Mullarney bogied, and he maintained that cushion through the remainder of the front nine.  A bogey on the 7th was followed by a birdie on the par five 8th hole, and he turned a three shot lead.  Tiarnan McLarnon was one of the early starters, he went around in 70 (-2) which would see him claim second place.  The back nine proved a challenge for most with all of the leaders bar O’Flaherty dropping shots.

Gallery: Lee Valley Senior Scratch 2018 R3(2)

The results told a story about the conditions, of the later starters O’Flaherty was the only golfer to match par.  Ian O’Rourke also shot a 72 while James Sugrue and Keith Crowley both signed for 73’s.  Given the quality of the chasing pack it was thought there would have been a low score, but it never happened and O’Flaherty became the first person to win back to back titles since Continue reading →

O’Flaherty goes low to lead in Lee Valley

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Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup 2018, Lee Valley Golf Club. Second Round, Saturday 21st April 2018Gary O’Flaherty had a super second round of 64 in Lee Valley this afternoon to claim the lead in the Senior Scratch Cup.  Nine birdies and a single bogey saw the Cork GC golfer post an 11 shot swing from his morning round.  His 75/64 has given him a two shot lead in the competition with the final 18 holes scheduled for tomorrow.  Ronan Mullarney (-3, 70/71) leads the chasers with Jack McDonnell and Sean Desmond on -2.  James Sugrue is 4th on -1, he’ll be looking for his second scratch cup win after success in Fota Island last week.

Gallery: Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup 2018 (R2)

O’Flaherty went on a roll from the second hole this morning.  He birdied the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and the index one 5th hole thanks to a chip in.  He parred the 6th and the 7th which was playing into a very strong wind.  Another birdie followed on the par five 8th and he turned on 30 strokes after a sixth birdie on the 9th.

Another birdie followed on the 10th with two more following on the Continue reading →

McNamara claims second win in Cork, Munster PGA Winter Series

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Cian McNamara Munster PGA Feb 2018

Cork’s Peter Hickey congratulating Cian McNamara on his win the Munster PGA Winter Series event in Cork Golf Club Picture: Niall O’Shea

Despite the cold weather, the Munster PGA got the second half of their winter series off to a great start on Monday in Cork Golf Club.  Twenty Pro’s braved the cold winds but the course in Cork was in great condition, and benefitted from the recent week of dry weather.  Munster PGA Captain Cian McNamara was the winner on the day, the Monkstown Professional shot a one under par 71 to record his second win of the winter series.  He turned on two under par thanks to birdies on the second, third and eighth, and he dropped a shot on the index one fourth hole.  A bogey also followed on the 10th but he parred the remaining eight holes to remain in the red and sign for a one under par 71.  After a break of a few months, David Higgins made his seasonal debut.  The Waterville man had a beak towards the end of 2017 and was in Barbados for a pro-am in January.  Although he carded an impressive 72 for second place, the form was mixed.  He had an uncharacteristic six bogies but that was countered with four birdies and an eagle.  David was joined on his team by brother Brian and dad Liam.  They returned an impressive Continue reading →

O’Flaherty misses out as Murray claims fifth Munster Mid-Am title

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Munster Mid Am 2017Two putts that were left hanging on the lip cost Gary O’Flaherty dearly as he missed out on a play-off in the Munster Mid Am.  The Cork golfer had a mixed day but gave himself a few chances.  Despite carding two early birdies, O’Flaherty lost a ball on the 7th to go back to level, but he stuck with it on a difficult day for golf.  There was a huge downpour in Newcastlewest as O’Flaherty finished his round.  Members worked had to clear the standing water on the final three greens meaning that play could continue, and O’Flaherty saw birdie putts finish right on lip on both 16 and 17.  A birdie on either hole would have been enough to get him into a play-off but he had to settle for third place.  O’Flaherty had a to sit back and watch his friend and Continue reading →

O’Keeffe and Sugrue set for South Showdown, South of Ireland Day 4

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Douglas Golf Club Reception for Peter O'Keeffe, Irish Amateur Open Champion 2017. Wednesday 17th May2017Today started with five Cork golfers still in contention in Lahinch, however as play came to a close that was reduced to just two.  The draw meant that there were two all-Cork clashes this morning, and one more this afternoon.  Tomorrow will see another all-Cork match with Peter O’Keeffe taking on James Sugrue.

Peter O’Keeffe marched on to the semi-final of the South of Ireland today, the Irish Open Champion was up against Cathal Butler this morning and beat the Kinsale man on the 17th.  This afternoon he was up against Robbie Cannon and again closed out the match on the 17th.  O’Keeffe has surely done enough at this stage to secure his place on the Home International side, he’ll be hoping to go further and become the first Cork man to win the South since Mervyn Owens.  James Sugrue will be having similar ideas after his two wins today.

James Sugrue was up against Gary O’Flaherty in the other Cork match, Sugrue won that contest on the 16th green.  Sugrue faced John Murphy in the quarter-final after Murphy beat Colm Campbell on the 19th.  This morning Murphy was three down but birdied the 12th, 13th and 14th to level the match.  He had a putt to win on the 18th but the ball refused to drop while resting on the lip.  He made no mistake on the 19th however and booked his place in the final eight.  On paper, Murphy probably had a slight edge over Sugrue, but it was the Mallow man who won.  It was a tight match all the way through with Sugrue one ahead for a few holes on the back nine.  Sugrue stretched that the two holes when he won the 16th, giving him the upper hand.  A half on the 17th was enough to see Sugrue go through to the semi-final.

In the other semi-final Conor O’Rourke will take on West of Ireland winner Barry Anderson.  O’Rourke had a marathon 27 hole match this morning to get past Thomas Mulligan and was taken to the 18th this afternoon by leading qualifier Lester Rowan.  Play in Lahinch get’s underway at 8.30 in the morning.