JOhn Murphy

British Am Dreams still strong for Murphy & Sugrue

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John MurphyPicture: Niall O'Shea

John Murphy

John Murphy and James Sugrue both came through the first matchplay round of the British Open yesterday, propelling them into the final 32 with hope increasing of an extended run in Royal Aberdeen.  There was a bit of a struggle for both golfers yesterday, Sugrue took a slight lead in his match early on but he had to wait until the 19th before he finally dispatched Australia’s Michael Kyle.

John Murphy too had an interesting round.  He level par after three holes but found himself two down.  He was two under through six and was still one down.  The tide did turn for Murph, by the 13th he had a three hole lead and he added another win on 14.  He lost the 15th Continue reading →

Sugrue and Murphy through in British Amateur

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Munster Strokeplay ChampionshipCork Golf Club Sunday 6th May 2018

James Sugrue

James Sugrue and John Murphy have both qualified for the matchplay stage of the British Amateur after the opening strokeplay quaifier.  The hot shots comfortably made it through along with Robin Dawson, Rowan Lester and Conor Purcell.

John Murphy qualified just outside the top ten, he shot a 69 on the Mulcar Links yesterday to close on +2.  Murphy was three under after four holes and steady golf under pressure saw him maintain a solid level of golf.  This time last week, he was still only the fourth alternative on the waiting list.

James Sugrue, who is part of the Irish squad at the event, was three shots back from Murphy in 40th place.  He shot two rounds of 73 on both Royal Aberdeen and Mulcar Links.  Both golfers have proven themselves at the highest levels, Sugrue is the reigning South of Ireland champion while Murphy won the St Andrew’s Links Trophy less than two weeks ago.  A good run in the matchplay stages will help their case for selection for the six man Irish team for the European Championships.

There was disappointment for Peter O’Keeffe who missed out on the matchplay stage, he missed the cut by two shots after a disappointing final few holes in yesterday’s second round.  The matchplay qualifier (for those tied in 64th place) takes place this morning with the first round proper starting later this morning.  James Sugrue is out at 11.08 and John Murphy starts at 13.51.

Murphy wins St Andrew’s Links Trophy

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John Murphy Links Trophy 2018John Murphy gave himself an early birthday present today when he won the St Andrew’s Links Trophy, and there was a little bit of a surprise too as he drained a 25 foot putt on first play-off hole to claim his first major title outside of Ireland.  Murphy shot 66 on the Old Course yesterday to hold the 36 hole lead.  A 71 this morning had him tied for the lead with one more round on the Old Course to come.  John started well, birdies on the 3rd and 4th saw him jump into a two shot lead.   He held that lead at the turn but when he dropped a shot on the 13th there was a three way tie for the lead.  East of Ireland winner Christo Lamprecht was leading but a  on the road hole took him out of contention.  Germany’s Jannik de Bruyn shot a 68 to finish on -9.  Murphy parred 14 to 17 and he Continue reading →

Murphy enjoying Kentucky experience

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John Murphy Picture: Niall O'SheaKentucky based John Murphy is ready for competitive action later this month as the talented Kinsale golfer prepares to restart his season.  The Irish Mens squad member is in his first year in the University of Louisville golf programme and despite an enforced lay-off due to knee surgery he’s really enjoyed the first semester in the US.  After moving over to Kentucky in August, it was a slow start for Murphy that ultimately meant minor surgery on a recurrent knee problem.  That side-lined John from competitive action but he worked on his rehab plan and will be in contention for a place when the first competition of new year in just a few weeks.  The end of the rehab coincided with a return home for a few weeks to catch up with family and friends.  “I came back to Ireland on the 14th of December and I was very excited to come back” said Murphy.  Christmas didn’t disappoint, I had plenty time to hang out with my friends and family because I would consider myself very Continue reading →

Hickey takes top ten spot in Mullingar

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John Hickey pictured during the Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup.

John Hickey pictured during the Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup.

Cork’s John Hickey was the best placed Cork golfer at Mullingar over the weekend.  Stuart Grehan won the prestigious title with a wire to wire win following two 67’s which saw him hit the halfway point on -10.

An opening 79 on Sunday morning hampered Hickey, and that return featured two triple bogies on his front nine.  Hickey recovered with a one under par 71 on Sunday afternoon and another two 71’s followed on Monday.  That saw him rise up the leaderboard and eventually finished in 9th place.  Hickey will be a key member of the Cork team that will be aiming to retain their AIG Barton Shield Munster title in Tralee this weekend.

Peter O’Keeffe (74/75/74/73) was just inside the top twenty (18th), O’Keeffe is currently preparing for his Irish Senior debut in Moortown next week.  James Sugrue and John Murphy both were tied for 24th place, that was likely to be Murphy’s last competitive event in Ireland as he’s moving to Kentucky next week to take up his place with Aaron O’Callaghan’s University of Louisville golf programme.  Kinsale duo Gary Ward (T37) and Cathal Butler (T41) both made the cut but Mallow’s Conor Dowling missed the cut for the final day.

O’Keeffe and Sugrue set for South Showdown, South of Ireland Day 4

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Douglas Golf Club Reception for Peter O'Keeffe, Irish Amateur Open Champion 2017. Wednesday 17th May2017Today 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

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

Cork’s Top Golfers to challenge in Lahinch

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Douglas Golf Club Reception for Peter O'Keeffe, Irish Amateur Open Champion 2017. Wednesday 17th May2017A dozen Cork golfers will be hoping to bridge a 13 year gap and win the South of Ireland Championship this week.  Mallow’s Meryvn Owens was the last man to bring the famous trophy back to Cork in 2003, when he beat the holder Colm Moriarty on the 18th green in Lahinch.  Cork winners have been few and far between, John McHenry won in 1986 and before that there’s a 22 year gap to W A Kelleher’s win.  The statistics would suggest that a few more years should pass before the next Cork winner, but given the strength and depth of the Cork golfers competing this year, don’t rule out a good run from a few of the form golfers.

Irish Amateur Open winner Peter O’Keeffe leads the Cork challenge, and O’Keeffe be hoping to play all seven rounds over the five days that will see him into the final.  The big hitting Douglas member is currently playing of +3.3, and he’ll be joined by his friend and Barton Shield teammate Karl Bornemann.  Kinsale have three representatives in the field, John Murphy has two wins in the bag this year and will be hoping to gain his first senior title.  Cathal Butler won the Munster Strokeplay Continue reading →

No joy for Murphy in Portrush, attention turns to Macroom for Barton Shield

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Munster Golf LogoJohn Murphy had no joy in Portrush yesterday at the North of Ireland.  Murphy was through to the last 16 but lost out in a tight match against Derek Downie.  A disappointed Murphy headed back to Cork yesterday but one marginal benefit was a day off today as he prepares to join Kinsale’s challenge for the Barton Shield this weekend.

AIG Barton Shield :: South Munster 2017 Draw

Macroom plays host to the AIG Barton Shield tomorrow.  Sixteen clubs will descend on the mid Cork course for the first eight round matches.  It will be a busy morning, a two tee start means that all sixteen fourballs will be on the course by 9.30am.  Two rounds are scheduled for tomorrow with the four semi-finalists going to play on Sunday morning.  Cork Golf Club will be hoping to get their 2017 campaign off to a good start, the 2016 Munster Champions face Fermoy.  Play in Macroom gets underway at 8.30am.

Meanwhile on Sunday Mahon and East Cork will head for Killarney for the Purcell and Bruen Munster finals.

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