James Sugrue

Sugrue in 5th place entering final day at SA Strokeplay

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Munster Strokeplay Championship Cork Golf Club Sunday 6th May 2018It was another solid performance from Mallow’s James Sugrue yesterday as he carded a one under par 71 at the third round of the South African Strokeplay Championship.  After earlier rounds of -5 and -3, yesterday’s one under was more modest, but he maintained his position on the leaderboard.  Two bogies and three birdies meant that Sugrue finished on -1 and an aggregate of -9 for his 54 holes.

Sugrue is now seven shots off the lead, meaning a win is probably out of reach, but a top ten finish will add to Sugrue’s very positive start to the season and it will have a positive impact on his WAGR ranking.  He’s also the best of the strong Continue reading →

Sugrue best of the Irish – Day 1 South African Strokeplay

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

James Sugrue had another good start to a tournament when he shot a 5 under par round on the first day of the Southern African Amateur Strokeplay.  Although an opening birdie was followed by a bogey, Sugrue was back in the red on -3 at the turn. He added another three birdies on the second nine but a bogey on his final hole meant that he signed for 5 under to finish best of the Irish in fourth place. That score leaves him just one shot off the lead which is held by three golfers.

Rob Brazill was the next best of the Irish, finishing the top ten. He had a memorable ace on the par three 16th, but unfortunately for Rob he had a triple bogey 8 on the next hole.  Ronan Mullarney, Mark Power and Conor Purcell are Continue reading →

Sugrue loses out in last 32 of South African Amateur

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James Sugrue_22

James Sugrue (Mallow) teeing off in the third round of the South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch. Picture: Niall O’Shea

James Sugrue lost his second round match in the South African Amateur Open this morning, losing out 4&2 to the top ranked home player.  Although he face a tough challenge, Sugrue had played well enough in the opening three days to fancy his chances against the home favourite.  Sugrue shot rounds of 68 and 73 over the weekend to finish in 15th place after the 36 hole qualifier.  He went on to record a 2&1 win over Aymeric Laussot from France, thanks to a nice birdie on his final hole.  Although faced with Nienaber who is 68th in the WAGR rankings, Sugrue would have fancied his chances.  The South African played to his WAGR position however and was six under through 11 holes.  Sugrue pulled a few shots back but when Nienaber birdied the 16th that was enough to close out a 4&2 win.

Ronan Mularney, Conor Purcell and Caolan Rafferty all made it through to the second round while Rob Brazill, Mark Power, Tiernan McLarnon and Alex Gleeson lost out in the round of 64.  Play continues today and all nine of the Irish squad will remain in SOuth Africa to compete in the SA Strokeplay which commences next week.  The travelling squad which includes John Carroll (Captain) and Neil Manchip (Coach) are combining both events into an extended winter coaching session.

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Solid Season for Sugrue

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James Sugrue Dec 2018 Cork CoCo ReceptionAlthough the competitive golf season is well and truly over, James Sugrue was back in the news last week when he picked up an award.  He was one of two recipients for golf at Mayor Patrick Gerard Murphy’s Co Council reception last week.  Although Sugrue didn’t hit the high of a championship win, he continued to progress with two local wins and some great individual performances during the year.  The season was book-ended by his two wins, the first in the Fota Island Senior Scratch Cup in early April, and the second in September when he won the John Whyte Fermoy Senior Scratch Cup to close out the season.  The two wins may be highlights, but to be fair the Mallow golfer has had a very impressive summer of golf which was recognised with his selection to the Irish team.  Sugrue joined the Irish Mens panel this year and represented the Irish selection at the South African and Spanish Amateurs in the early season, and in October he travelled to South America for two international events.  His full cap finally came when he was selected to play for the Home Internationals which took place last week.  Capped on multiple occasions in Boy’s golf, this was a big step up for Sugrue but one he took in his stride.

The easy going 20 year old went on to win four matches as Ireland finished as runners-up in the four team tournament.  “There was actually no real difference, I didn’t feel as if I was under any extra pressure.  I know all the lads and I know Neil Manchip for a long time as well” said James.  “I was really happy with the way I played down the stretch in a few matches.  In the opening foursomes we were two up with three to play and I hit an approach to around six inches to close out the match.  On the second day I had a four iron on a par three into the wind, and I managed to get it to inside a foot to close out that match.”   You can feel the confidence in Sugrue as he tells that story.  Continue reading →

Second win for Sugrue in Fermoy

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James Sugrue_22

James Sugrue (Mallow) teeing off in the third round of the South of Ireland in July.  Picture: Niall O’Shea

There was a nice symmetry to James Sugrue’s golfing summer.  On Sunday last he won the John Whyte Fermoy Senior Scratch Cup to close out the season, that followed his win in Fota Island at the start of the season when he won the very first Senior Scratch Cup to be played in Cork.  The two wins may be highlights, but to be fair the Mallow golfer has had a very impressive summer of golf which was recognised last month with his selection to the Irish team.  Sugrue joined the Irish Mens panel this year and represented the Irish selection at the South African and Spanish Amateurs in the early season.  His full cap finally came when he was selected to play for the Home Internationals which took place last week.  Capped on multiple occasions in Boy’s golf, this was a big step up for Sugrue but one he took in his stride.  The easy going 20 year old went on to win four matches as Ireland finished as runners-up in the four team tournament.  “There was actually no real difference, I didn’t Continue reading →

Sugrue & O’Keeffe named on Irish team for Home Internationals

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J2016 Flogas Irish Amateur Open Championshipames Sugrue and Peter O’Keeffe were both named in the Irish team for the Home Internationals which take place in Wales in less than two weeks.  For the first time in well over a decade, Cork will be represented by two golfers in an Irish Mens team.  After missing out on selection for the European Team Championships in July, Sugrue finally gets his first senior international cap after coming close earlier this year.  The Mallow man earned several caps at boys level and after a three year gap, he’ll be back in Irish colours in Conwy, Wales.  Ireland won an unprecedented fourth title in a row last year, and this year they’ll be hoping to retain the title.

Both Sugrue and O’Keeffe have been on form Continue reading →

Munster win Interprovincial Chamionship in Athenry

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Interprovincial Championship 2018

The winning Munster team pictured with Team Captain Michael Coote receiving the trophy from John Moloughney, President GUI, picture Fran Caffrey, Golffile.

There was a dramatic finish to the Interprovincial Championship this afternoon, with Geoff Lenehan again sealing a win for Munster.  The Waterville member won the crucial point in 2012 and 2014, and he was at the centre of the action again in Athenry, winning his singles match to give Munster the win against Leinster and the title.

Munster went into day three with a narrow lead, all four teams had one win each, with Munster ranked first on the basis of matches won.  The meant that a win for Munster should have been enough to seal the title.  The foursomes didn’t quite go to plan, with Munster trailing 3-1 at lunchtime.  The only win came from O’Keeffe and Lenehan.  Munster came out firing in the singles though, with Peter O’Keeffe and James Sugrue claiming the first points.  Munster needed five of the seven points to claim the title and with two in the bag the odds favoured the men in blue.  Eanna Griffin brought in a third point and while Andrew McCormack lost, John Hickey won to make it 4-1 with two matches on the course.  Both playing the final Continue reading →

5 Cork golfers named on Munster team for Interprovincial Championship

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James Sugrue_22

James Sugrue (Mallow) teeing of in the third round of the South of Ireland.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

James Sugrue and Peter O’Keeffe lead a five strong Cork contingent on the Munster team for the interprovincial championship later this month.   Cork GC duo John Hickey and Gary O’Flaherty along with Kinsale’s Cathal Butler make up the majority of the eight man team to play in Athenry.

Sugrue and O’Keeffe were assured of their places thanks to finishing in the top three on the Munster Order of Merit.  Both have recorded wins this year and they have also been playing well, reaching the latter stages of the South of Ireland and the AIG Irish Close.  Gary O’Flaherty retains his place and he’s be hoping to add to the six wins that he’s racked up since his first appearance in 1996.  John Hickey and Cathal Butler return to the side after missing out last year, they both played in Fota Island in 2016.

Geoff Lenehan, Andrew McCormack and Eanna Griffin also retain their places from last year in what is a very experienced side.  There are two notable absentees though Continue reading →

Sugrue & O’Keeffe bow out of Close

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AIG Irish CloseCork interest in the AIG Irish Close finished today as James Sugrue and Peter O’Keeffe lost in the third and fourth rounds respectively.  Sugrue was up against Conor Purcell and the match went all the way to the 20th hole before it was settled.  Unlike the result of extra holes in Lahinch, Sugrue came out on the wrong side when the match finished on the 2nd hole.  Purcell went on to beat Eugene Smith this afternoon and will face Eoin Leonard in tomorrow’s semi-final.

Peter O’Keeffe had a good win this morning, beating Jack Walsh with two holes to spare.  He faced Alex Gleeson in the quarter-final and unfortunately for O’Keeffe the 2016 winner from Castle won by a single hole.  Gleeson will now face Robbie Cannon in the other semi-final.

Continue reading →

O’Keeffe and Sugrue advance at the Close

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South of Ireland 2018Lahinch Golf Club Saturday 28th July 2018

Peter O’Keeffe in action in Lahinch at the South of Ireland.  Picture: Niall O’Shea

Peter O’Keeffe and Jame Sugrue are through to the last 16 after a tough day at the AIG Irish Close Championship at the European Club.  O’Keeffe, who had been struggling with illness yesterday, had a one hole win over Noel Crawford this morning, that was after being one down at the turn.  In the afternoon he faced John Murphy in an all-Cork clash.  Murphy wrapped up his first round match against Gary Cullen on the 12th signalling he was still the form player.  It was O’Keeffe who started better, going two up after the first three holes.  Murphy recovered quickly, levelling the match by the 6th, and he held a one shot lead at the turn.  O’Keeffe had another purple patch on the back nine, he was one up through 15, and he won the 16th to double his lead.  He won the match on the 17th, winning that hole to record a 3&1 win over Murphy.  O’Keeffe will face Jack Walsh in tomorrow’s third round.

James Sugrue also Continue reading →