Desmond leads Kerry Boys R1 Qualifier

Results from Round 1 of the Kerry Boys Championship at Ballybunion Golf Club:

Kerry Boys Championship Qualifier Day 1

Tuesday 9th August 2016, White Tees, Cashen Course

Results Gross CSS 73 (Visitors 73)
1st Ronan Cross(5) Ballybunion GC 73
2nd Sean Desmond(-1) Monkstown Golf Club 73
3rd Conor Meade(3) East Clare Golf Club 75
4th Luke Walsh(5) Killarney Golf Club 76
5th MARK HEALY(1) Kinsale 77
6th Darren Mulcahy(7) Killarney Golf Club 77
7th Eoghan C O’Neill(5) Limerick 77
8th Killian Cotter(4) Doneraile Golf Club 77
9th Philip Byrne Jnr (8) Ballybunion GC 79
10th Jason Davis(5) Carton House Golf Club 79
11th JOHN MURPHY(-1) Kinsale 79
12th Dara Phelan(4) Faithlegg Golf Club 79
13th Eoin Magill(9) East Clare Golf Club 80
14th Finn Looney(6) East Clare Golf Club 80
15th Brian O’Connell(3) Bandon Golf Club 81
16th Eric Rumley(3) Kinsale 81
17th Ciaran Nolan Tighe(9) Tralee Golf Club 82
18th Edward Walsh(2) Mallow Golf Club 82
19th Ryan Kelliher(9) Killarney Golf Club 82 Continue reading

Butler claims 3rd scratch cup in Killarney

Munster Strokeplay Championship 2016

Cathal Butler

Kinsale’s Cathal Butler won his third scratch cup of the year when he came from behind to win the Killarney Senior Scratch Cup on Saturday.  The 36 hole competition, played over both courses had a capacity field and report from the players were very positive.  Peter O’Keeffe from Douglas led after the opening round with a 73, two clear of Cathal Butler who was his closest challenger.  O’Keeffe added 72 on Mahony’s Point in his second round, giving him a total of 145.  With the wind picking up and Butler being one of the alter starters the odds were that O’Keeffe would maintain the lead.  As it happened Butler shot a hugely impressive 69 in his second to tie O’Keeffe and win on the countback.

Butler could have been better placed after the first round, he was three over for his final three holes on Killeen.  He made no such mistakes on the run-in in Mahony’s in the afternoon.  He birdied three holes on the front nine and added two more birdies on the 11th and 16th.  He bogies the 3rd and the par five 13th, be he was three under when standing on the 18th tee.  There could have been trouble on the 18th Continue reading

Round Up: Davey Barry at PGA Assistants, Tom Cleary at British Seniors, Boys & Girls Home Internationals

Davey BarryDavey Barry (Douglas) is in action at the PGA Assistants Championship, he shot a level par 72 in his first round at Little Aston Golf Club in Bermingham.  Barry had three birdies and three bogies in his opening 18 holes, and he’s just inside the top twenty heading into the second round.

Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship

Cork’s Tom Cleary is in the top ten after the opening round of the British Seniors Amateur Open at Formby.  Cleary had an opening 74 and is three shots behind the leader.  He’s tied with Tipperary’s Arthur Pierse as the leading Irish players

British Seniors Amateur Open

Valerie Clancy, Rachel Thompson and Mairead Martin all had good starts for Ireland today at the opening day of the girl home internationals.  Clancy Continue reading

Kinsale’s Pro-Shop Challenge

Pro Shop ChallengeKinsale PGA Professionals Ger Broderick and Ian Stafford face a tough challenge later this month as they will take on John Murphy and Cathal Butler in the “Pro-Shop Challenge”.  The event takes place at Kinsale Golf Club on Monday 22nd August and the event is a fundraiser for the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria next year.

The idea came from Ian Stafford who’s nephew Darragh Ryan is a volunteer with Special Olympics.  Ian explained how the event came about: “I volunteered time as a golf coach with the Special Olympics in the past so I personally know that is a worthy cause.  It was my idea to have the charity match and Ger, John and Cathal all jumped at the opportunity to participate for such a worthy cause, I haven’t heard of something like this been staged locally before so I thought it might be something different and may peak some interest for the golf fan.”

The format for the day will be a fourball better ball strokeplay match over 18 holes between the 2 professionals in the club, Ger Broderick and Ian Stafford against the reining Munster Strokeplay and Fota Scratch Cup Champion Cathal Butler and reining Munster Boys and Kerry Continue reading

Murphy takes 2nd place at Ulster Boys

John Murphy Kerry Boys

Kinsale’s John Murphy with the Kerry Boy’s Cup Picture: Gary Ward

John Murphy narrowly missed out on back to back Boys victories today when he finished just one shot off the winning score.  Murphy was tied for the lead with three others going into the final day, the rain affected third day saw the competition reduced to 54 holes following heavy overnight rain.

Murphy got off to a great start, and was three under for the day after four holes.  He had a tough time of it around the turn with six consecutive bogies.  The Munster Boys Champion rescued his round with an eagle on the long par five 16th hole.  Murphy’s one over par 72 was enough to keep pace with the leaders and it looked like a four way play-off would follow.  But Dun Laoighre’s Alan Fahy came in with a great 68 and took the title by one stroke.  Murphy took second place on a countback from five players on -1.

Golffile Gallery: Ulster Boys Day 3

Ulster Boys Final Scores

211 Alan Fahy (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club) 69 74 68
212 John Murphy (Kinsale) 75 65 72 , Patrick Brennan (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 72 68 72 , Ross Kelly (Tuam Golf Club) 72 68 72 , Hugh O’Hare (Fortwilliam Golf Club) 72 68 72 , Jake Rowe (Tandragee Golf Club) 71 74 67
213 Marc McKinstry (Cairndhu Golf Club) 71 73 69

Continue reading

Super 65 for Murphy, tied for lead in Ulster Boys

Golf_Kinsale_John Murphy_WP_June 2015

Kinsale’s John Murphy 

Kinsale’s John Murphy shot a superb 65 on day two of the Ulster Boys at Bangor today.  The early tee time suited the Munster Boys Champion as he stormed the course.  Murphy was four under through four holes thanks to two birdies and an eagle.  Murphy added two more birdies on the back nine on his way to signing for a six under par total of 65.  Murphy bettered his first round score by ten shots and is in a great position going into the final 36 holes tomorrow.

Murphy is currently tied for the lead on -2.  The last few cards from round two still need to b counted but as it stands Murphy is leading along with Hugh O’Hare, Ross Kelly and Patrick Brennan.

 Fota Island’s Shane Galvin had a great second round.  He shot a 74 but unfortunately missed the 36 hole cut by one shot.  His round included birdies on the 4th, 9th and 18th.    Mallow’s Adam Walsh finished a few strokes outside the cut mark.

Murphy Named on Home Internationals Team

John Murphy April 2016Munster Boys winner John Murphy was named on the Irish team that will compete in the Boys Home Internationals next week.  Murphy is one of two Munster players named on a strong side that features the winners of the Irish Boys, Leinster Boys and Munster Boys events.  Andrew Mulhall from Waterford Castle is the other Munster golfers to be named on the team of 11.  Murphy is currently in action in the Ulster Boys Open at Bangor Golf Club.  Murphy shot an opening 75 in testing conditions and is well inside the cut mark going into day two.  Shane Galvin (Fota Island) and Adam Walsh (Mallow) are also in action.

The Boys Home Internationals take place in Ballyliffin from the 2-4 August.

It’s a double for Kinsale as Murphy follows Cathal Butler in being named on the Irish team, Butler took part in the home internationals which were held in Wales last year.

The mens team wa Continue reading

Egan and Walsh help Munster to Under 16 Interpro Title

2016 Boys Interprovincial Championship at Tullamore Golf Club

Kevin Murray (Team Captain) and John Fennessy (Team Manager) with the victorious Munster Under16 boys team (from left) Ian Halpin, Fred Twomey (Provincial Coach), Jack Egan, Charlie Dawson, Jonathan Keane, Sean Enright and Edward Walsh at the 2016 Boys Interprovincial Championship matches at Tullamore Golf Club today (22/07/2016). Picture by Pat Cashman

Jack Egan and Edward Walsh helped Munster to their first Under 16 Interprovincial title.  Munster were in second place after the opening two matches yesterday, and under the watchful eyes of Kevin Murray, John Fennessy and Fred Twomey, the team played very well in their final game against Connacht and overcame a half point deficit.

Muskerry’s Jack Egan was the hero of the hour, he was one down playing 18, and a loss would have meant that Connacht would win on a countback.  Egan duly obliged, he won the hole to half his match and that ensured that Munster won the match and ultimately the title.

Boys Interprovincials Gallery by Cashman Photography

Egan finished the three matches with a win and two halves, in his one foursomes and two singles matches.  Mallow’s Ed Walsh lost his opening foursomes match but captured two valuable points for Munster in the singles matches against Leinster and Connacht.

The Under 18 team did as much as they could in the final day, they had a good 6-4 win over Connacht.   But unfortunately for Michael Coote’s team, Ulster retained their lead by beating Leinster in their final match.  There were some Continue reading

Barrett joins Desmond, Healy & Murphy on Munster Boys Interprovincials team

Fred Daly Trophy Munster Finals

Greg Barrett at the Fred Daly Trophy Munster semi-finals at Gold Coast Golf Club. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Mallow’s Greg Barrett was named on a strong Munster Boys team this afternoon.  Team Captain Michael Coote named the team after the Munster Boys Amateur Open had finished and three of the top eight made the Munster team.  Barrett has been having a good run of form and his scores of 74,76,78 gave him a top 30 finish this week and kept him in sight of the selectors.  Barrett finished in 5th place at the Leinster Boys recently and hopes will be high that his current form will continue next week in Tullamore as the Munster Boys team will aim to win the inter-provincial title next week.  He was also a member of the Munster Under 16 team last year.

Munster Boys winner John Murphy was an obvious choice for the team, and his Kinsale club-mate Mark Healy also made the team, both retaining their places from last year.  Monkstown Sean Desmond also retained his place, Desmond shot a 66 yesterday and finished in the top ten.  He has also been a key player on the Monkstown team that has reached the Munster Finals of the AIG Senior Cup.  The four Cork golfers are clearly on form as are Andrew Mulhall and Ciaran Vaughan.  Hopes will be high Continue reading

Murphy’s dramatic finish to win Munster Boys

Junior Amateur Dromoland Co Clare

Con Woods, Captain, John Murphy, Kinsale and John Moloughney, GUI Munster Golf at Dromoland Castle Golf Club Co Clare.Pic Arthur Ellis. http://www.golffile.ie

Kinsale’s John Murphy won the Munster Boy’s title in dramatic fashion with two birdies on the final holes to win by one shot.  Murphy had a three shot lead going into the final round but a triple bogey on the 8th cut his lead.  Fortwilliam’s Hugh O’Hare jumped into the lead after Murphy bogeyed the 15th and 16th.  Murphy produced a strong finish however, birdieing the 17th and 18th at Dromoland Castle to capture the title.  Murphy finished the championship on -5 after signing for a final round 74.  Hugh O’Hare was a shot behind on -4 and Andrew Mulhall (Waterford Castle) was third on -3.  Ross Kelly from Tuam Golf Club shot the low round of the day, his 70 saw him finish in the top ten.

Monkstown’s Sean Desmond finished in 8th place, a final round 78 saw him finish on +6.  Mark Healy was 24th and Adam Boland had a disappointing final round to finish in 33rd spot.  Jack Egan had a final round 78, this will have been agreat learning experience for the young Muskerry player

Munster Branch Chairman John Moloughney thanked all of the Continue reading