John Hickey

Sugrue heads Cork qualifiers, North of Ireland Championship

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Sugrue5James 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

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AIG Senior Cup, Mallow Golf Club, Sunday 25thth June 2017Kinsale’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 →

Hickey & O’Flaherty lead Cork charge at East of Ireland

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John Hickey pictured during the Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup.

John Hickey

John Hickey shot a two under par 70 in Baltray this morning to finish the first round in 5th place.  A steady round saw Hickey turn on -2 after two birdies.  He added a third bridie on the 14th but bogied the par three 15th immediately after that.  Two more pars followed and he signed for a 70 which is just one shot off the lead set but a group of four golfers.  Gary O’Flaherty returned to competitive golf after a short break and he went round the Co Louth links in a very respectable 71 strokes.  Like his Cork Golf Club partner Hickey, Gary also had a very tidy round.  Two birdies, one bogey and fifteen pars made up the card that saw him tie for ninth place just two shots away from the leading bunch.  The fourway tie Continue reading →

Hickey Regains Muskerry Scratch Cup Title

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Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup 2017

Jason O’Callaghan (Ryans SuperValu) presenting the Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup to Cork’s John Hickey, also included is Jim Hornibrook, Captain.

John Hickey won the Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup in Muskerry on Saturday.  The Cork member won in dramatic circumstances after a sudden death play-off which lasted for four holes.  Hickey finished the 36 holes on a score of level par after shooting rounds of 72 and 70.  He tied for the lead with Castletroy’s Andrew McCormack.  The Limerick man won in Douglas last year and rarely leaves Cork empty handed after a number of good finishes.  The play-off was an exciting affair and lasted for four holes before Hickey won with a birdie on the par three 6th.  The first hole was halved in pars, and both golfers birdied the short par four which came next.  McCormack chipped in for birdie, while Hickey two putted from just off the green.  The pair skipped the 3rd and 4th and went to half the fifth holes which was the third play-off holes.  Hickey had a chance on the fifth, he missed a six footer for birdie which McCormack got up and down from a greenside bunker.  The 6th is probably the most Continue reading →

Hickey wins Intervarsity Championship at Lahinch

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Irish Intervarsity Championship

John Hickey (CIT) and Chloe Ryan (UCD) winners of the Irish Intervarsity Championship, Lahinch Golf Club, Clare, Ireland.  Picture: Golffile | Fran Caffrey 

John Hickey (CIT) captured the Irish Intervarsity Championship today after he put together a great six under par round.  After shooting a flawless 68 yesterday, the Cork Golf Club golfer went two better today.  Hickey had a steady front nine and turned on two under thanks to birdies on the 4th and 7th.  He parred the 10th and then had three consecutive birdies to get to five under for the day.  He added another birdie on the 18th to get to nine under for the tournament.  Hickey had to sit on the clubhouse lead while the last three groups played out the final holes.  Overnight leader Jack McDonnell was the closest challenger, nut he had a very mixed opening nine, and a bogey on the 15th dropped him back to -7.  He did birdie the last but that meant that the CIT golfer won his first national title by one stroke.  Cathal Butler (Maynooth) slumped to a 77 after a disappointing back nine, he finished in a tie for 9th place alongside James Sugrue (CIT) who shot a 72 in Continue reading →

Butler moves up to second place at Lahinch, Inter-Varsity Championship Day 2.

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Munster Strokeplay Championship 2016Cathal Butler (Maynooth) added a second 69 today at round two of the inter-varsities in Lahinch, and he no in second place just two shots off the lead.  Munster Youths winner Jack McDonnell is the leader on -8 after recording a 67 in his second round.  First round leader Kyle McCarron shot a 72 which sees him remain in second place level with Butler.

John Hickey (CIT) shot one of the low rounds of the day with a 68.  The Cork GC Barton Shield member had a flawless four under par round with birdies on the 4th, 5th and 9th, and he added a fourth on the 12th.  The round saw Hickey jump back into the top ten.  James Sugrue added a level par 72 to his opening 71 and he’s in 15th place going into the final round.  Adam McSweeney (CIT) dropped back today after a 76, he’s on +1 in a tie for 18th place.

Golffile.ie Intervarsity Championship Day 2 Gallery

Kieran Lynch (Maynooth) just make the cut on +4 but John Murphy (Maynooth) was one shot outside it on +5.  Timmy Broderick, John Boylan and Conor Roche were also among the golfers to miss the cut.  In the ladies competition, Paula Walsh missed the cut after an 82 in the second round.

Continue reading →

Cork face Warrenpoint in AIG Barton Shield semi-final

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john-hickey-paul-tobin

John Hickey & Paul Tobin pictured with Fergal Deasy in Muskerry last year. 

Cork Golf have named two strong foursomes pairings for their semi-final against Warrenpoint in the AIG Barton Shield.  With Gary O’Flaherty unavailable due to work commitments, team manager John Carroll has reverted to the 2015 pairing of John Hickey and Paul Tobin.  They paired off last year in Muskerry winning two matches before losing out to Munster winners Muskerry.  Tobin also featured in the South Munster phase when he partnered Mark Ford as Cork marched on to qualify for the Munster finals.  Carroll has kept Brian Kelleher and Mark Ford together in the opening match, the pair blended well in the Minster finals at Cork Golf Club.  Cork will face a strong challenge from the Warrenpoint who have Colm Campbell playing with them.  Campbell is the reigning Flogas Irish Open and Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup champion, and he’s also a current Irish International.  That said, Cork have every chance in the open space of the O’Meara Course in Carton House.

The first match on the O’Meara Course in Carton House gets underway at 10.48am and a large crowd is expected to support the team who go in search of their first green pennant since 1998.

Gallery: Cork win AIG Barton Shield Munster Final

AIG Barton Shield Semi-Final
Warrenpoint v Cork (Warrenpoint names first)
Paul Reavey & Jamie Fletcher v Brian Kelleher & Mark Ford
Colm Campbell & Stephen Coulter v Paul Tobin & John Hickey

 

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Butler through to last 16 in AIG Irish Close at Ballyliffin

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Munster Strokeplay Championship 2016Cathal Butler is the last Cork golfer left in the Irish Close at Ballyliffin, winning both of his matches today.  The Irish international and Munster Strokeplay winner beat Jonathan Yates 3&2 this morning and followed that with a 19th hole win over John Cleary.  Butler faces Jake Whelan in the second match tomorrow morning and is off at 8.09am.

Despite finishing in the top 20, James Sugrue ended up with one of the toughest draws, he was up against defending champion Tiernan McLarnon.  Unfortunately for Sugrue, McLarnon won on the 16th, and he also won in the afternoon to go through to the last 16.

Both John Hickey and John Murphy won their first round matches but exited the competition this afternoon.  Hickey beat Ronan Mullarney on the 18th today, and he took Richard Knightly to the 20th hole before losing out to the Royal Dublin man.

John Murphy saw the 20th as well, his morning match needed two extra holes before he saw off Rob Brazill.  The effort took Continue reading →

Sugrue Leads Cork challenge at Irish Close

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James Sugrue 2016

James Sugrue pictured with the Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup which he won earlier this year

The business end of the AIG Irish Close Championship gets underway tomorrow with four Cork golfers qualifying for the matchplay phase.  Mallow’s James Sugrue lead the Cork challenge with a pair of 75’s that saw him finish day two inside the top 20.  Sugure was going very well he was one over for the front nine, but a double on the par five 13th meant he signed for his second 75.  Kinsale’s John Murphy playing in his first Close is just one shot behind Sugrue.  He came in with a two over par 74 which bettered his opening round by three shots.  Cork’s John Hickey also bettered his opening score by three shots, a 75 today was a disappointing finish as the recent Barton Shield winner was -1 at the turn.  Hickey is Continue reading →

No Friday Feeling for Cork Golfers in Lahinch, South of Ireland Day 3 Report

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Munster Strokeplay Championship 2016

Cathal Butler (Kinsale) 

Friday was a bad day for Cork golfers in Lahinch as the matchplay stages of the Pierse Motors South of Ireland got underway. Four Cork golfers qualified through to the top 64 matchplay, but by Friday evening all four had exited the competition.  Paul McCarthy made a stunning start to the competition on Wednesday and Thursday during the strokeplay qualifying rounds.  McCarthy was -5 for 36 holes but lost out in the matchplay when David Foy beat him on the 16th green.  Peter O’Keeffe also lost out in the first round.  Robbie Cannon, his playing partner from Wednesday and Thursday got the better of him with an impressive 6&4 win.

Golffile Gallery from Day 3 at Lahinch

John Hickey won his morning match against Rosslare’s Gary Collins but then lost out in the second round when beaten by Daniel Holland by one hole.  Kinsale’s Cathal Butler also made it through the first round with a win on the 18th green over former champions Pat Murray.  Like the other Cork golfers though, he lost out in one of the later matches this afternoon, losing on the 16th to Stephen Watts.  The final 16 are back on the course tomorrow morning and four more round face the finalists when the competition concludes on Sunday.

South of Ireland Amateur Continue reading →