Murphy on top in St Andrews

John Murphy Munster StudentsJohn Murphy (Kinsale, Maynooth University) continued his good form as he produced to rounds of 68 and 64 to lead the R&A Scholars Tournament in St Andrews.  Both of today’s rounds were played on The Eden Course and Murphy bagged no less than 12 birdies in his 36 holes.  Murphy (-8) shot the low round of the afternoon and holds a one shot lead as he goes into tomorrow’s final round.  The final round takes place on the fabled Old Course, and Murphy will have the honour of playing in the final group.   Murphy will be joined by Cloe Ryan (UCD) who won the ladies section in 2016.  Sinead Sexton and Molly Dowling are in the top five and in the mens section Stuart Grehan is three of the lead and Robin Dawson is a further to shots back.  Murphy won the Munster Students Championship in Cork Golf Club last week, posting the best score over the first 36 holes in the weather affected tournament.

Contested over 54 holes at the Eden and Old Courses, the two-day tournament offers the leading men’s player a place on the European Arnold Palmer Cup team to face the USA, with the leading women’s player receiving a starting place at a Ladies European Tour event.  The tournament features Continue reading

Murphy Claims Munster Students Title

John Murphy Munster StudentsJohn Murphy claimed the inaugural Munster Students title in Cork Golf Club today, the Kinsale golfer won on the result at 36 holes after play was cancelled on the final day.  Snow and heavy rain rendered the course unplayable and after consulting with course staff, Tournament Director Dave Prendergast had no option but to cancel the final round with the results from 36 holes declared.  Murphy finished on a total of 138 (-6) for the 36 holes, four shots clear of James McVicker (Knock) who took second place.  Third place went to Cathal Butler (Kinsale), and holder Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little) was fourth, both golfers also finished on -2.

It was Murphy’s second Munster title, the Irish Boys international won the Munster Boys title in 2016.  “It feels good, it’s a great start to the year” said Murphy.  “It’s a long season so it’s a confidence boost to get an early win.  Monday was a little disappointing, especially on the back nine.  Yesterday I was happy to be on -4 through 10 as I wasn’t playing my best.  I missed a few chances on the way in yesterday, I hit a poor tee shot on 16th but scrambled a par which kept me on track.”  His 68 in the second round tied for the lowest score on the day, keeping him ahead of the field.  Murphy has a busy few weeks ahead as the season gets into full swing: “I’m playing in St Andrew’s next week for the Bursar’s Tournament and then I’m playing in London in the Berkhamsted Trophy.  After that I’m Continue reading

Murphy leads Munster Students after second round 68

Golf_Fred Daly South QF_Kinsale_John Murphy_May 2015

Kinsale’s John Murphy 

John Murphy stormed to the top of the leaderboard on day 2 of the Munster Students Championship, thanks to an excellent 68.  He’s now four shots clear of the field on 6 under par.  68 was a popular number in Cork Golf Club today, with both James McKeever and Cathal Butler posting 68’s.  Butler will disappointed despite tying the low round of the day, he was seven under before carding a triple bogey on the 17th.  The Kinsale man dusted himself off and recovered with a par on the 18th.  Butler recorded six birdies and an eagle, with one bogey and the triple in the impressive round.

Murphy’s 68 was less dramatic four birdies and a bogey on the front nine saw him on -3 at the turn.  He added a birdie on the 10th and shot par golf for the remaining eight holes.  The four hole cushion gives him a big advantage going into the final round, but there are some quality golfers in the chasing pack.  Monkstown’s Sean Desmond is tied for 5th on level par and James Sugrue is just inside the top Continue reading

Murphy leads Cork Challenge, Munster Students Day 1

John Murphy April 2016John Murphy (Kinsale/MU) lies just one shot off the lead after day one in the Munster Students Championship at Cork Golf Club.  The Munster Boys champion finished on two under after carding four birdies and two bogies.  The lead is held by Stefan Greenberg (Tandragee) and David Foy (Laytown & Bettystown)on three under, while holder Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little/MU) is just one shot off the lead.

Sean Desmond (Monkstown/UCC) is in the top ten after signing for a one over par 73.  Desmond won a Munster Senior Cup title with Monkstown in Cork last August and the course clearly suits him.  The UCC student was four under through six holes but he dropped two shots before the turn.He had a mixed start to the back nine and a double bogey 15th meant that he signed for a 73.  Kinsale’s Cathal Butler is one shot back and also in the top ten.  He eagled the par five second Continue reading

Strong Field for Munster Students

Murphy & ButlerMany of Ireland’s top young golfers will be heading for Cork next week for the inaugural staging of the Munster Students Championship.  The newly named Championship replaces the Munster Youths and it features a new ladies competition along with a team competition.  Munster Strokeplay Champion Cathal Butler will be joined by Munster Boys Champion John Murphy, and the Kinsale golfers will lead the strong local challenge.  Both Murphy and Butler are representing Maynooth University and the home of the Harrington Scholars golf programme will travel in force.  Also wearing the MU colours will be Jack McDonnell won the Munster Youths title in Monkstown last year.  The team competition will see many colleges enter multiple teams, with the best two scores counting from the three person team.  In the ladies competition, local hopes will rest with Muskerry’s Jean O’Driscoll (UCC) and Douglas’ Aiofe Ni Thuama Continue reading

2016 a Year to Remember for John Murphy

munster-golf-adm_awards_114Kinsale’s John Murphy capped off a great year last week when he announced that he would be heading to the US in the second half of 2017 on a golf scholarship.   Later this year Murphy will head for Kentucky to take up a place with the Cardinals at the University of Louisville.   Murphy will join Galway’s Devin Morley who started in Louisville in 2016, and Assistant Coach Aaron O’Callaghan who is in his third year coaching at the division one college.

The announcement of Murphy’s move to the US had been one of his options over the past few months, and while there are exciting times ahead, John can look back at a great 2016.  “I have so many memories from 2016 that I will cherish forever” said Murphy.  “There are some stand-out memories from 2016, such as winning the European Boys’ D2 championships in Czech Republic and retaining the Kerry Continue reading

Murphy First Golfer to win Twice

John Murphy April 2016John Murphy became the only golfer to win the Munster Junior Golfer of the Year in November.  Murphy picked up his second successive award from Munster Golf having also won the Boys Order of Merit.  Having competed in all of the provincial events at Boys and Youths levels, Murphy gave himself every chance of performing well in the Order of Merit.  He scored well in the Irish Youths and the Irish Boys which ultimately separated him from the other contenders.

Murphy was delighted to be the first golfer to win the award more than once.  “It was a great honour to receive this award once, not to mind twice” said John.  “This time two years ago I was playing off about five and had been pretty unsuccessful in championships, with no real status on the boys scene.  I am delighted with how far I have come in the last 2 years.  Winning this award twice was something that was far from my thoughts in 2014.  It is great to see that the Muster GUI have acknowledged my golf with this award in the last two years, and I am very grateful for this.  It is very special for me that I was the first ever person to win this award twice in a row, and I will never forget Continue reading

Murphy Enjoys Portugal Weekend, Darren Clarke Champions Weekend

John Murphy April 2016Kinsale’s John Murphy had a pretty special bank holiday weekend, Murphy was in Portugal for the Darren Clarke Champions Weekend.  As winner of the Munster Youths in August, Murphy was invited to take part in the event which was hosted by the Amendoeira Golf Resort in the Algarve.  The 18 winners from the top youths, boys and girls competitions in 2016 invited for the three day trip.  Rachel Thompson, Mairead Martin and Valerie Clancy also earned invitations after their performances this year.  After a 4am start in Dublin airport on Friday morning, the golfers met Clarke on arrival at the golf club and played golf with the Ryder Cup Captain three times over the two days.  Although vastly experienced at top level national and international boys golf, Murphy admitted that it was a pretty special experience.  “We went over to the golf club and Darren introduced himself to us. It was kind of weird at the start, but I got used to it after a few hours” said Murphy who is now a student in Maynooth.  “We played 18 holes with Darren playing with us and watching us, pointing Continue reading

O’Keeffe Wins Kinsale Senior Scratch Cup, Murphy helps Ireland to European Boys Team Title

Interpros 2016 Peter O'Keeffe

Peter O’Keeffe (Douglas) 

Peter O’Keeffe won the Kinsale Senior Scratch Cup today with a four under pat 68.  O’Keeffe recovered after an interesting start, he put a three iron out of bounds on the first tee which meant he walked onto the second hole on +2.  He recovered however and started racking up the birdies.  He went under par on the 3rd, 6th and 8th before dropping a shot on the 9th.  O’Keeffe added four birdies and five pars on the back nine to set the clubhouse lead on -4.  The round could have been better, O’Keeffe missed a birdie putt on the 17th and an eagle putt on the 18th.  Still it was enough to give the Douglas and Munster golfer his first scratch cup of the year.  Kinsale’s Keith Fitzpatrick also finished with a 68 but had to settle for second place with O’Keeffe beating him on the back nine.  Cork’s John Hickey finished in third place.  Many of the golfers today will be in action again tomorrow in the Continue reading