Mallow’s James Sugrue got his season off to a solid start last week when he finished in third place in the Munster Youths at Monkstown. Sugrue shot 71,71 over the two days and he was closing in on the lead when play was suspended on Friday, and the third round was eventually abandoned. The 2014 Munster Youths winner was the best of the Cork finishers as 11 local golfers made the cut for the final day. Kinsale were well represented on the final day, Cathal Butler finished in 6th place with Eric Rumley and John Murphy both finishing in 12th place. Rumley too the 2nd net prize while Murphy won the Under 18 prize. Adam McSweeney (Douglas), Alan Riordan (Muskerry) and Brian O’Connell (Bandon) were all in the top 30. Paul Tobin, Greg O’Mahony, Mark Healy and Darragh O’Connor all made it through to the final round. The event was won by Jack McDonnell from Forrest Little. The Maynooth University student shot an opening 66 to lead by two strokes. A second round 73 saw him take a two shot lead into the final round. Unfortunately the rain beat everyone on Friday. All 47 golfers who made the cut for the final round started at 8.30am on Friday. The high winds couldn’t keep th rain from gathering on the greens and after just an hour of play reports were coming in of several flooded greens. The course staff and tournament committee did their best to clear the standing water on several greens but at 10am they were forced to suspend play and abandon the final round. The result was declared on the basis of the scores after 36 holes. Continue reading
James Sugrue
Day 3 Abandoned at Munster Youths
Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little/NUIM) receiving the Munster Youths trophy from John Moloughney, Chariman Munster Golf and Carl Toal, Captain Monkstown Golf Club. to bad weather on the final day. Picture: Niall O’Shea
Despite everyone’s hope that the forecasted weather would pass over Cork, the wind and persistent rain forced organisers to abandon play on Day 3 of the Munster Youths at Monkstown Golf Club.
The rain started around 7.30am and it looked like the golf might be completed in the morning. 47 golfers started at 9am sharp but by 10am greens were starting to flood from the heavy rain. At 10.30 tournament director Sean O’Leary in consultation with the tournament committee and the Monkstown staff had no alternative but to abandon the third round. The result was declared on the basis of the results of the first 36 holes. And so the title went Continue reading
Gallery: Munster Youths Final Day
Pictures from the final day at the Munster Youths Amateur Open in Monkstown Golf Club: Continue reading
Sugrue leads four Cork golfers in top 20 at Munster Youths
Early morning sunshine burns away the frost from the clubhouse at Monkstown as Day 2 at the Munster Youths gets underway. Picture Niall O’Shea
Mallow’s James Sugrue is the best placed Cork golfer going into the final round of the Munster Youths at Monkstown Golf Club. The 2014 winner is three shot behind leader Jack McDonnell who shot 73 to finish on -1. Sugrue is tied for second on +2, Hugh O’Hare from Fortwilliam is also on +2.
Kinsale’s Eric Rumley followed yesterday’s 70 with a 76 and that saw him drop from 3rd to a tie for 12th. John Murphy is also tied for 12th place, both are seven shots off the lead so at best their chances of winning are marginal. Cathal Butler is the third of four Kinsale golfers to make the cut, he added a 71 today to his 74 from yesterday, he is now in 6th place but is six strokes off the lead.
Munster Youths Amateur Open Scoring
Adam McSweeney (Douglas) finished in 24th place along with Alan Riordan (Muskerry). Bandon’s Brian O’Connell was a shot Continue reading
Rumley leads Cork golfers at Munster Youths
Eric Rumley
Kinsale’s Eric Rumley led the Cork golfers in action today at the Munster Youths in Monkstown Golf Club. Rumley shot a level par 70 to finish in a tie for third place, and his round was even more impressive when he had to contend with the worst of the weather.
Rumley had a challenging start, he was three over after nine following bogies on the 3rd, 6th and 8th holes. He bounced back with birdies on the 10th and 11th, and he eagled the par five 15th hole. A bogey on the closing hole brought him back to level par for his round, but it was still a very impressive round given Continue reading
Sugrue leads Maynooth in Waterville
Mallow’s James Sugrue the individual winner as Maynooth University captured the inaugural Jerry Murray/Notre Dame Invitational at Waterville Golf Links. The reigning Irish Senior Cup champions finished 12 strokes ahead of Texas A&M at the famous County Kerry Links with UNC Wilmington a further 16 strokes behind in third.
The Mallow teenager made a very positive start to his stint with the Harrington Scholars team at Maynooth University, and it was no doubt a welcome return to form after a frustrating summer which was hampered by injuries. Sugrue shot a final 73 to capture the individual title by three strokes from team mate Eugene Smith, who closed with a 72, on three over par 219. Connor Black (78-78-72) was the best of the visitors alongside his Texas A&M’s team mate Ben Crancer (72-81-75) in third and fourth respectively on 12 over par 228 with Notre Dame’s Miguel Delgado (75-79-76) fifth on 230.
Cork North/West are Boys Champions
(Originally Published 8th Sept 2009)
Junior Golf in Munster took a huge leap forward last Saturday with the staging of the first inter-county boys competition. Over the past ten months six county squads were selected from their clubs to go forward to complete a training programme. The programme was developed by GUI Provincial Coach Fred Twomey and delivered by PGA professionals in each region. Saturday marked the conclusion of the current phase when the six county teams competed for the inaugural Boy’s Under 14 Inter-County Trophy. And it was Cork North & West under the guidance of Mallow’s Michael Collins who won on the day.
Despite working at club, provincial, national and international level for quarter of a century, Saturday last stood out for Munster Branch Chairman Michael Cashman: “In my 25 years in Munster Golf the Fota under 14 Day was by far the most satisfying and rewarding day I ever experienced in Golf. I hope that more Clubs in Munster will adopt the under 14 Boys Teaching programme. The Munster Branch will certainly be delighted to help and assist in every way. Special credit must go to Fred Twomey (Munster Coach) and the Club Professionals who were part of the teaching programme, for the last 10 months they gave of their time to teach these boys the skills of golf, the scores returned in Fota bears proof of this. The Chairman also thanked the clubs and the golfers themselves and of course the parents who gave their time to transport to boys from the various sessions around the province during the year.
The Munster Branch has been trying to develop junior golf at a time when numbers in the sport are static. The current programme was developed by Twomey who recently qualified as an Advanced Professional from the Belfry. The programme has been supported on the ground by clubs and parents and most importantly PGA professionals who managed the training programme. While Twomey can take credit for the programme he is quick to mention all involved in the recent developments in junior golf: “Michael Cashman, the chairman of the Munster Branch has led from the start, Michael Murphy, junior convenor, Liam Martin, Peter English, Sean O’Leary and Phil Cooney the Munster Youths Captain, have all done great work to develop young golfers.” Twomey continued “the programme, with the support of the Munster Branch started several years ago with the National Coaching and Training Centre in Limerick. Golf is to be improved not just as an elite panel on our pyramid but more importantly the foundation of our development is to show this game to all kids.” It’s hoped that after the successful launch, more clubs will become involved in the initiative.
(Note: The pictures include Michael Murphy from Tramore and Michael Cashman from East Cork, both huge supporters of junior golf. Murphy was the Junior Convenor and Cashman was Chairman)
Winning Team – Cork North/East: K O’Keeffe, E Goggin, J Sugrue ( Mallow), M Cronin (Macroom), C O’Callaghan (Youghal),G O’Mahony, D Lucey, C Murphy (Lee Valley). Coach Michael Collins (Mallow Driving Range)
Runners Up – Limerick: R Cunningham, R Murphy (Castletroy) D O’Mahony (Adare Manor) M McGrath, R. Hunt, G. Fitzgearld (Limerick Golf Club), S.O’Neill, D Wrenn ( Limerick County). Coach (Donal Mc Sweeney (Limerick County)
Cork South /West: M Mc Carthy (Muskerry), A Crowley (Skibereen), D Meany (Cobh) M.O’Connell (Cork), Stephen & Shane Bennett (Lismore), Michael & Jack Howard (Raffeen Creek). Coach: Paul Kiely (Cork)
Kerry: S Carroll (Ballybunion), J O’Shea (Dooks), R Kelly, D Fitzgearld, J Moran (Tralee), J Lynch (Castleisland), B Curran, N O’Connor (Killarney). Coach: David Keating
Clare: D Brennan ( Shannon), J Loughnane, J Mc Namara (East Clare) A Mc Nulty, J Dillon, A Davidson, J Murphy (Lahinch), E Moriarty (Dromoland). Coach: David Foley (Dromoland)
Waterford: B Norris ( CarrickonSuir), G Leacy (Dungarvan), T & E Conway (West Waterford), D O’Rourke, R Dawson (Faithlegg), B Murray, E O’Dwyer (Waterford Castle). Coach: David Hayes (Dungarvan)
Leading individual Scores
D O Mahony ( Adare Manor) 48pts
D Lucey ( Lee Valley) 46pts
Rory Cunningham ( Castletroy) 43pts
M Howard ( Rafeen Creek) 42pts
Sugrue & Tobin in Fairhaven Trophy
Sugrue & Tobin in Fairhaven Trophy
By Niall O’Shea
James Sugrue and Paul Tobin represented Ireland last week in the Fairhaven Trophy with Sugrue leading the Irish charge. The competition is one of the leading international scratch competitions for juniors and attracts a field of almost 150 golfers from across Europe. Fairhaven is a championship links course next to the Open Championship venue, Lytham & St Annes. Continue reading
Sugrue romps home in Munster Youths
Sugrue romps home in Munster Youths
By Niall O’Shea
Mallow’s James Sugrue blew apart the field in the final round of Munster Youths in Dungarvan on Friday as he finally claimed the title he narrowly missed out on in 2012. Sugrue had a one shot lead going into the final round and he added a four under par 68 to have a winning margin of seven shots. Sugrue was one of only two players to break par on the final day, all of his main competitors finished over par to give the Mallow man the generous winning margin Continue reading
Sugrue Set for Success in 2014
Sugrue Set for Success in 2014
By Niall O’Shea
Mallow’s James Sugure has been selected to travel to France next week with the Irish Boys for a number of matches with France. Sugrue along with Mahon’s Paul Tobin are among a team of eight golfers who will compete over four days in Nice as part of their build up for a busy season. Continue reading
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