James Walsh

Cobh so close to All Ireland Success

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The Cobh Pierce Purcell panel who were runners-up at the 2026 AIG All-Ireland Final in Ennis on Saturday
Picture: INPHO/Bryan Keane

Cobh Golf Club enjoyed a landmark weekend in Ennis as their Pierce Purcell panel were in All Ireland action.  The team produced a brilliant semi‑final victory on Friday before falling just short in Saturday’s All‑Ireland decider.  It was a campaign that captured the spirit of the club, with strong travelling support spurring on the team.

Cobh had previously won their quarter final in Ennis at the end of August when they beat Moyola Park.  They returned to Ennis last Friday to take on six‑time champions Nenagh, a side steeped in experience at this level.

Robert Lynch and Shane Martin won the second match for Cobh and the overall score was tied at 2-2 when Des Connolly and Stephen Mulcahy won on the 18th green.  Lynch and Martin were nominated for the sudden death playoff and the pair sealed the win on the first playoff hole.  There was a Continue reading →

Walsh Wins Dundalk Scratch Cup

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James Walsh won his first senior scratch cup on Sunday when he ended up on top of a competitive leaderboard in Dundalk.  The Maynooth student who’s now in his third year on the Harrington Scholars programme shot an opening 66 (-6) to lead by three shots from Irish internationals Caolan Rafferty and Colm Campbell.

Walsh followed that with a second round 71 to finish on seven under.  Rafferty, a multiple winner of this competition could only better Walsh by one shot and the Kinsale man was the winner by two shots.  His win was particularly impressive given that the top ten as full of internationals and major winners.

Walsh is off to Sweden this week for the Swedish International Mens Championship.  This is the second event on the Maynooth calendar and Walsh will be looking to continue his form after finishing in 21st place at the Bernard Langer German Men’s event which took place earlier this month.

Dundalk Scratch Cup sponsored by One Finance (Par 72)

Overall

137 James Walsh (Kinsale) 66, 71

139 Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) 69, 70

140 Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint) 69, 71

141 Mark Cadden (Roganstown) 73, 68; Daid Kitt (Athenry) 70, 71

143 Eoin Murphy (Dundalk) 72, 71.

Round 1 Gross: Padraig Curry (Millicent) 71.

Round 2 Gross: Evan Farrell (County Louth) 70.

Overall Nett: Sean Ryan (+1.0, Warrenpoint) 144 (71, 73).

Bornemann claims 3rd Irish Title

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Karl Bornemann in action at the Irish Seniors Mens Close at Nenagh last week. Bornemann retained his Irish Veterans title, beating John O’Brien in the final.
Credit ©INPHO/Leah Scholes

Karl Bornemann claimed another national title last week, he won his third Irish title when he retained his Irish Veterans title in Nenagh.  The Douglas golfer set his intention early when he posted a one under par 71 for the opening round.  He finished the 36 hole qualifier stage in the leading position with Castlemartyr’s John O’Brien two shots behind in second place.

As it happened the top two finishers both reached the final with Bornemann getting the better of O’Brien to in his second Irish Continue reading →

Strong Performance from Howard in Seapoint

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David Howard

David Howard put another good top level performance in the bank last week with a top ten finish in the Flogas Irish Amateur at Seapoint.  The Fota Island golfer has been in good form this year and his -10 score for four rounds at the Co Louth links included rounds of 70, 68, 72 and a final round 68.

Although he was five shots off the winner, Howard had an impressive haul of 20 birdies which highlights how effective his tee to green game is.  Howard played almost all of the Irish Championships and his efforts were rewarded Continue reading →

Doyle Conquers Cork Again

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John Doyle conquered Cork Golf Club for the second time in two weeks as he came from behind to win the C2O Group sponsored Munster Stroke Play.  Fresh from his win at the Irish Boys, Doyle is now two from two in Little Island.

It was a super weekend for golf in Cork, a strong field took on the Alister MacKenzie signature course which was in great condition.  The 75 strong field including West of Ireland Champion Dylan Holmes (Greystones), Flogas Irish Boys’ Amateur Open Champion John Doyle (Fota Island) and the recently returning Stuart Grehan (Co. Louth).  Holder Paul Coughlan and previous winners Karl Bornemann and Barry Anderson were also in the field.

John Doyle (Fota Island) receiving the Munster Stroke Play trophy from Paul Buckley from C2O Group, sponsors of the tournament.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

From the initial field at the Little Island course on Saturday, just 33 remained by Sunday morning and it was an ever changing leaderboard.  Cork’s Jonathan O’Sullivan led after the opening round with an impressive 69 in windy conditions.  By Saturday afternoon there was a three way tie for the lead, Keith Egan TJ Ford and James O’Rourke were out in front.  Egan in particular impressed with a five under par 67 after a great display of putting.

In the final round it was the 17-year-old Mitchelstown native who would battle his way to the top, taking a one-shot victory in what would be one of the tightest finishes the championship had seen for many years.

Doyle would finish his third-round level par for the tournament, rounds of 72, 71 and 73 leaving him in a Continue reading →

James Walsh in action in St Andrews

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James Walsh 
Picture: Niall O’Shea

James Walsh played his first competitive round at the Old Course in St Andrews last week when he was competing in the final of the R&A Student Series.  The Douglas golfer, who has just turned 20 actually led the tournament going into the final round.  At the turn Walsh was still ahead but a disappointing back nine saw him drop a few shots and he finished the 54 hole event in 5th place.

That is Walsh’s fourth top ten finish in the series that has seen him play in England, Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Scotland.  Walsh is in first year Continue reading →

Coughlan captures Munster Strokeplay

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A top class field assembled in Cork Golf Club on Saturday, all hoping to take home the Cork Scratch Cup as the winner of the Munster Strokeplay Championship.  First played for in 1923, the cup has gone through a few different formats, and 72 holes would separate the field in this staging.  Cork was in great condition for the prestigious Munster Championship recovering quickly from the wet spring.

Holder Jason Law got the competition underway at 7.30 on Saturday as he was out I the first group.  The centenary winner took the winter off from golf and while he opened with a disappointing 79, he followed that with a 71 but missed the cut by two. Continue reading →