Pictures from the AIG Senior Cup Munster semi-final: Continue reading
James Sugrue
Super Sugrue wins the South, Lahinch Golf Club
Winner of the South of Ireland Championships in Lahinch Golf Club, Clare , James Sugrue of Mallow Golf Club takes a moment with the trophy after his 3 and 2 victory over Conor O’Rourke of Naas Golf Club on Sunday evening.
Pic. Brian Arthur
James Sugrue wrote his name into the history books today, he captured the famous South of Ireland at Lahinch. The Mallow man joins Mervyn Owens and John McHenry as the only Cork winners in the past fifty years. Sugrue qualified in the top half of the draw after the 36 hole strokeplay phase, and came through two matches on Friday to reach the final 16. On Saturday he beat Gary O’Flaherty and John Murphy to set up a semi-final match with Peter O’Keeffe. In a tight match Sugrue beat O’Keeffe on the 17th, setting up a final against Conor O’Rourke Continue reading
O’Keeffe and Sugrue set for South Showdown, South of Ireland Day 4
Today 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.
Strong Cork Challenge in Lahinch, South of Ireland Day 3
Weather conditions in Lahinch were slightly better today as the opening two rounds of the matchplay got underway. After two rounds there are still five Cork golfers involved, with two all-Cork clashes set for tomorrow morning.
Kinsale’s Cathal Butler and John Murphy made it through to the third round. Murphy had a two hole win over his Munster team mate Andrew McCormack this afternoon while Butler won on the 18th against Robert Brazill from Naas. Butler will face Peter O’Keeffe in the third round, O’Keeffe had wins today over two Limerick members, Owen O’Brien and Sean Poucher to book his place on the last 16. Gary O’Flaherty will face James Sugrue in the final match tomorrow morning. O’Flaherty needed all 18 holes this morning to beat Keith Murphy while this afternoon he dispatched Stephen Loftus 5&4. Sugrue was the last player left on the course this evening and he wrapped up his match with Darragh Coghlan on the 17th. With eight Cork qualifiers the hopes were high that someone might follow in Mervyn Owens footsteps and claim the prestigious South title. After today there are still five with a chance. Gary Ward won this morning but fell to Colm Campbell in the second round match this afternoon. Two Cork qualifiers lost out in this morning’s first round. Sean Desmond was handed a tough draw when he was put up against Conor O’Rourke from Naas. The form book ruled and Continue reading
Murphy through to final 16 in North of Ireland
John Murphy had two matchplay wins today to advance to the third round of the North of Ireland Open in Royal Portrush. They were two contrasting rounds, he needed a huge putt on the last this morning to get past Kiet Van Der Weele but made short work of Andrew Mulholland this afternoon. Murphy always seemed to have a narrow edge over his opponent from Holland this morning but it took a 25 foot putt on the last to go one up and advance to the last 32. This afternoon he faced Castlerock’s Mulholland and solid golf – and a good few birdies – saw him go five up at one stage near the end of the front nine. In the end he closed put the match on the 15th with a 4&3 win. He now goes on to play Derek Downie from Kirkistown Castle. It’ll be another early start for Murphy with a 7.45am tee time. He’ll be hoping for another long day tomorrow with two rounds scheduled to bring the competition down to the final four golfers.
Cathal Butler lost out on the 18th green this evening, he was beaten by Tandragee’s Ross Dutton on the 18th. Butler had gone two down earlier in the match but had levelled it by the time they reached the 14th. The home player persevered however and took the win on the final green. Butler had overcome Andrew Continue reading
Sugrue heads Cork qualifiers, North of Ireland Championship
James Sugrue is one of three likely Cork qualifiers to make it through to the match play stages of the North of Ireland Championship at Royal Portrush. The Mallow man recovered from a disappointing front nine one the championship course that saw him turn on +3. Sugrue fought back with three birdies to level his score on the back nine on the Dunluce links, he finished with a 36 hole total of 140 (-3) to claim a place in the top 25. Sugrue’s level par 72 was one of the better scores today with many golfers failing to get around the difficult course links without dropping shots. Kinsale’s Cathal Butler carded a three over par 75 today, when added to his 66 from yesterday the Kinsale man also qualified comfortably on 2 under par. He had 15 pars and a birdie, but two consecutive double bogies on the front nine cost him a few spots on the leaderboard. Conditions were much better for day two of the championship which saw 300 golfers play over both courses at the famous resort on the northern coast.
John Murphy had nervy wait Continue reading
Butler opens with 66 at North of Ireland
Kinsale’s Cathal Butler opened with a very impressive 66 at the North of Ireland Amateur Open yesterday. Playing on the Valley links in Royal Portrush the Maynooth student shot a round of -5 to grab a tie for fifth place. Butler went out in -1 after three birdies and two bodies on the opening nine, but a powerful back nine saw him return in -4. Birdies on the 10th & 11th were followed by an eagle on the par five 16th. That see’s him just two shots off the lead held by Rowan Lester.
Mallow’s James Sugrue recovered from an early bogey on the 2nd, he went on to record four birdies and twelve pars to claim a place in the top 30 on -3. John Murphy shot a one under par round of 70 to lie just inside the Continue reading
Attridge seals win for Mallow, AIG Senior Cup
Brian Attridge in action this morning
Mallow pulled off a great win today in the AIG Senior Cup, defeating Cork on the final hole in the final match. Brian Attridge won the 16th and 17th to move from one down to one up and he held his advantage on the par three 18th to record a memorable win at home for the North Cork club.
Earlier in the afternoon, Paul McCarthy led out the side against Cork’s John Hickey. Hickey won the 1st and held onto the lead after the 2nd, but that was the only time that he would be ahead. McCarthy won the 3rd and 4th to take the lead and although Hickey levelled it twice, McCarthy took the lead back. He was two up on the 17th tee and although Hickey won that hole, McCarthy halved the 18th to secure the first point for Mallow. James Sugrue added the second point soon after. Like the first match, Cork had the early advantage with Ian O’Flynn holding Continue reading
Munster Debuts for Murphy & Sugrue
John Murphy, Pic: Tristan Jones
John Murphy and James Sugrue are set to make the Munster senior debuts next month in Carlow, they are two of three new caps to be named on the Munster Senior Interprovincial team. Both Murphy and Sugrue have represented Munster at Boys level and are set to join the senior ranks in a new look team. Captain Phil Cooney has named Murphy, Sugrue and Dublin based Jack Pierse in a team that see’s four changes from last year. Waterford’s Eanna Griffin has also been named in the side that see’s four changes from last year.
It’s the biggest shake up in several years, although all eight golfers were the form players over the past few months, they took the top eight spots on the qualifying order of merit. Cooney along with selectors John Carroll and Michael Coote had four picks to make after Peter O’Keeffe, Robin Dawson, John Murphy and Continue reading
Leinster Students win for John Murphy
John Murphy (Kinsale) with the 2017 Leinster Students Amateur Open Championship trophy after his victory at Newlands Golf Club today . Picture by Pat Cashman
John Murphy proved his credentials as a clutch player when he nailed a six foot par putt on the 18th green to win the Leinster Students title in Newlands today. Murphy was tied for the overnight lead alongside Cathal Butler and Ben Murray. Butler’s challenge faded after a few early bogies, the Kinsale man was unable to repeat the form that saw him shoot a course record 64 yesterday. Murray however kept pace with Murphy and although he went two behind on the 4th hole, he picked up a few birdies and was one behind at the turn. After Murphy and Murray bogied the 10th, the Waterford man drew level with a birdie on the 12th. Both golfers bogied the 15th and they were still level going onto the 18th tee. Although it was a short par five, the pressure was telling as neither golfer made the green in three. Murphy was left with a six foot Continue reading
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