Graeme Dunlea

Monkstown Junior Easter Camp

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Monkstown Golf Club Junior Easter CampMonkstown has been a busy place this week, in addition to the usual weekly competitions, over 50 young golfers have been taking part in a three day Easter Camp.  Following the success of a junior camp last October, Monkstown Club Pro Cian McNamara had planned to run another camp over Christmas.  Wet weather put a stop to that but McNamara along with Monkstown’s assistant Pro Graeme Dunlea have had a very busy week.  They have been running three sessions daily to cater for kids taking part in their Easter Camp.  “We have a group of 51 kids involved in camp” Cian explained, “with juniors ranging from 6 years of age to 13.  The majority of juniors are not members.  The main reason for this is that we have coaching provided weekly for juniors that are members alongside with events scheduled so members are more than catered for during holiday period.”

>>>Gallery: Monkstown Junior Easter Camp<<<

Graeme Dunlea

Monkstown’s Graeme Dunlea

Graeme Dunlea joined Monkstown from Adare Golf Club in late 2015 and his addition to the Monkstown team has allowed himself and Cian to develop a strong junior golf programme.  Both were introduced to the game at a young age and Cian explained their objectives for the camps: “The primary goal from the camp is to introduce Juniors at the youngest possible age to the game of golf in the most friendly environment possible.  Both Graeme and I have firm beliefs in how juniors should be nurtured during their introduction to the game.  The club are very supportive with our coaching plan and we plan to hold camps during all holiday periods.”  In addition to the three day camps, Monkstown have an ongoing programme to encourage new juniors to take up the game as Cian explained: “We also have three weekly junior time slots that non-members can attend, so if anybody was interested they could just contact the pro shop and ask for either Graeme or myself and we will give information about are on-going junior golf program.  Our highest priority is growing the enjoyment of the game.  We are very happy with our progression and continue to improve our coaching plan.  Once we can keep juniors having fun we can implement different coaching principles over time.

Four Cork Golfers through in Irish PGA Championship

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

David Ryan shot a very impressive five under par 67 in Dundalk Golf Club yesterday to jump up to fourth place at the Irish PGA Championship.

Irish PGA Championship Leaderboard

The second round was completed this morning and four Cork golfers have made it through to the third round.  Monkstown duo Cian McNamara and Graeme Dunlea both finished in the top 20 with two rounds left to play, but they are 14 shots off the lead set by Niall Kearney.  The defending champion has an eight shot lead over the field and is in a very .  Davey Barry (Douglas) also had a great second round, he need a good round after an opening 77, and he responded with a 70 in the weather delayed second round.  Padraig Dooley was unlucky to miss the cut, a bogey on the 18th cost him a place for the weekend.  The third round continues today.

Ryan leading Cork charge in Connemara Pro-Am

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David RyanDavid Ryan (Cahir Park) is the leading Cork professional after round one of the Connemara Pro-Am today.  Ryan was one of three Cork golfers to shoot under par, he recorded -2 for his round to lie in second place behind Neil O’Briain (Old Conna) on -5. Monkstown duo Cian McNamara and Graeme Dunlea were one shot behind on -1 and in a tie for 5th place.  Fernhill’s Wayne O’Callaghan shot a level par round for a share of 12th place and he too is in with a shot going into tomorrow’s final round.

Ryan had an uneventful front nine, in fact he carded 10 consecutive pars before he birdied the 11th.  He added birdies on the 14th and the 17th but he Continue reading →

McNamara wins Oughterard Pro-Am

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Cian McNamaraCian McNamara was the joint winner of today’s Oughterard Pro-Am in Galway.  The Monkstown Head Professional carded a one under par total which included four birdies and three birdies.

McNamara, starting his round at the first, dropped a shot at the second but hit back with back to back birdies at the fifth and sixth before dropping his second shot of the day at the par three ninth.  Out in level par 35, the 28-year-old birdied the 11th and 15th on the back nine but a dropped shot at the 12th saw him home in one under 34.  Donal Gleeson (Old Conna Golf Club) also posted – to tie McNamara for the top spot.  Castlemartyr’s  Alan Gleeson and Monkstown’s Graeme Dunlea were part of a nine way for 11th place.  The Castlemartyr Assistant led his team to the amateur prize with a score of 94 points.

Oughterard Pro-Am Detailed Results

It’s McNamara’s second win on the Irish Region Tour this year and he’ll be hoping for another good round tomorrow as he’s in action in Connemara.  McNamara is the holder having won in 2014 and must be fancied for the 36 hole event.

Connemara Pro-Am Leaderboard

Monkstown’s Dunlea 3rd at Beaverstown Pro-Am

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Newly relocated Graeme Dunlea shot a four under par 68 at the Beaverstown Pro-Am in Dublin yesterday.  He finished in a tie for 3rd place behind joint winners  Damien Mooney and Richard Kilpatrick.  Dunlea had five birdies in his round with the only bogey coming on the 13th when he was 4 under.  He recovered with a birdie two on the 17th to sign for a 68.

PGA Irish Region Beaverstown Pro-Am Results

Dunlea recently finished an 8 year stint in Adare Resort Golf Club to take up a position in Monkstown under Head Professional Cian Continue reading →