Pictures from Douglas: Continue reading
Karl Bornemann
Gallery: Cork interest in the South Of Ireland 2021
Images from Day 1 of the South in Lahinch: Continue reading
Top Class week for Douglas
Sean Reddy pictured after winning the Connacht Buys U14 Championship.
As weeks go, last week was pretty impressive for Douglas Golf Club. A national title, a provincial title and a few key wins in inter-club matches meant that Douglas had an exceptional week. Karl Bornemann and Sean Reddy brought back some silverware from their events in Waterford and Mayo. Peter O’Keeffe reached the final four in the North of Ireland at Royal Portrush and there were inter-club wins in the Womens Senior Cup, Mens Senior Cup and the Barton Shield.
As well as their members performances around the country, they also hosted the Munster Under 16 Boys Open. This was the first open event to be held over the newly rated black course. The par 70 layout see’s the 3rd and 18th reduced to par fours, and new tees in place on Continue reading
Buckley wins Emirates Amateur Open
Cork’s Paul Buckley became golf’s first winner of 2021, he won the Omega Emirates Amateur Open last week. The Kanturk native held his nerve during the closing stages of the elite amateur event to become the second Irishman to win the title. “I’m absolutely delighted with the win and totally taken aback with all the attention, it must be lack of Cork sport at the moment” said Paul after arriving back in Cork on Sunday.
Paul along with Karl Bornemann travelled out to Dubai two weeks ago to take in two tournaments. Buckley who spent over a decade in Australia prior to 2019 had played in a few Australian events in early 2020 but the Covid restrictions meant he had to look in a different direction for competitive golf this year. “We had Continue reading
The Year that was 2019
James Sugrue pictured with Irish Mens Captain John Carroll
2019 was a stellar year for Cork golfers. With seven Corkmen winning international caps, there were plenty of great performances among several notable individual wins. Just three years ago there wasn’t a single Cork golfer on the national mens squad, this year there were three golfers to reach that standard in what must be regarded as a great run for Cork golf. With three seniors, one boys and three mens representatives, it was an impressive number of caps. Top of the list of course was James Sugrue, the Amateur Champion. The Mallow man won the Castletroy Scratch Cup in May, but less than a month later his world would change with the win of a lifetime in Portmarnock. An Amateur Championship win seemed unlikely at a few stages during that week in Dublin. After just five holes on the first day of qualifying Sugrue branded the course as “insanely long”, and he found himself three down deep into the back nine in the second round of matchplay. In what was a marathon rather than a sprint, Sugrue played himself into form, thanks in equal parts to a new Titleist driver, solid advice from Neil Manchip and a hot putter. On that Saturday morning playing in the Amateur Championship final, few would have thought it was his seventh round of the week. He sprinted into a five up lead against Scotland’s Ewan Walker. Despite the impressive start, the final would prove to be another marathon lasting the full 36 holes. The Mallow man, watched by a record crowd of over 3,000 claimed the win on the final green, becoming the second Cork golfer after Jimmy Bruen to win the Amateur Championship. That win saw Sugrue’s schedule change, with an unplanned visit to Portrush for the Open championship taking priority in his calendar. James was very unlucky to miss the cut, a lost ball on the 14th on Friday cost him a place at the weekend when Shane Lowry created his own bit of history. Although injury hampered Sugrue towards the end of the season he had the honour of raising the Irish flag at the Walker Cup in Royal Liverpool in September.
Peter O’Keeffe
Peter O’Keeffe started the year off with a win, he came out on top in Muskerry in April winning their senior scratch cup. A five under par 66 gave O’Keeffe a good start and he was under par again in the second round to win the competition by two strokes. It was the second time that O’Keeffe won in Muskerry, his first coming 13 years ago in 2006. O’Keeffe was fifth in the East of Ireland and topped that by reaching the final of the North in July. Prior to the North he spent the week in Lahinch caddying for Robin Dawson in the Open. Peter finished second in the North of Ireland, which this year moved to Portstewart and Castlerock due Portrush staging the Open Championship. He lost out to Englishman Aaron Edwards Hill after a final that went to the 17th hole. The Douglas man was back in Lahinch later on in July, this time as a player in the South of Ireland. He started well, finishing in the top ten after the Strokeplay qualifier. He then Continue reading
O’Brien sends Ireland through to European Seniors Final, Lyons selected for Seniors Home Internationals
Ireland had a super win against hosts Denmark in semi-final of the European Seniors today. In a match that went all the way to the wire Ireland ended up on the right side of the result after one additional hole. Alan Condren won with a few to spare and Steven Graham won on the 18th. Karl Bornemann & Jim Carvill lost their foursomes match on the 17th, and Peter Sheehan also lost his singles match. With four matches in the score was 2-2, meaning O’Brien’s match would decide the outcome. The Castlemartyr member was one down after 15, and despite winning the 16th the momentum shifted when he lost 17 to a birdie. With the pressure of the match on him, O’Brien birdied the last to extend the match. On the 19th, he calmly slotted a ten foot putt to send Ireland through to tomorrow’s final. It’s been a great week for O’Brien on his international debut, and his form has been matched by his teammates who also have been very solid all week. Ireland now face England tomorrow in the final.
Pat Lyons
Pat Lyons has been included in the Irish team for the Seniors Home Internationals later this month, making it three Cork golfers in the seven man team. It’s a first international call up for the Cork Golf Club member, and his selection Continue reading
Bornemann & O’Brien in European Action
Karl Bornemann and John O’Brien are both in action today at the European Senior Mens Team Championships in Denmark. Ireland are among the ten teams in action, hoping to make the top eight after the opening strokeplay qualifier. John O’Brien is appearing in Irish colours and he was delighted to get the call a few weeks ago. He’ll tee it up at 8am this morning alongside England’s Paul Wharton and Italy’s Filippo Cleaici. Bornemann makes a return to the team after playing in Sweden in 2017. He’s off later on today at 12.50. The 36 hole strokeplay takes place today and tomorrow, with the matchplay phase beginning on Thursday. Hopes are high that Ireland will regain the title they last won in 2017. The competition takes place in Rungsted Golf Club in north east Denmark.
European Senior Men’s Team Championship (Rungsted GC, Denmark; 3-7 September) — Ireland:
Karl Bornemann (Douglas)
Jim Carvill (Banbridge)
Alan Condren (Greystones)
Steve Graham (East Sussex National)
John O’Brien (Castlemartyr)
Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion)
Captain: Michael Coote (Tralee)
Manager: Matt Donohue (Portumna)
O’Brien & Bornemann named on Irish Seniors Team
John O’Brien
John O’Brien and Karl Bornemann have been named on the Irish team that will take part in the European Senior Mens Championship next month. It’s a first call up for O’Brien while Bornemann returns to the team after playing on the winning team in 2017.
Earlier this week, O’Brien got a call from Irish Seniors Captain Michael Coote and it was a a dream come true. “It was the best feeling ever” said the Castlemartyr man. “I worked so hard this year with Cian McNanara and put in a lot of work to get down to my lowest handicap of +1.1. I’ve been playing a lot of golf and it’s starting to pay off. I can’t wait to play in Denmark representing Ireland in the European championships, it’s a dream come true for me I hope to do my family and club proud.” O’Brien recently set the course record in Blarney where he is also a member, and he was runner up at the Ulster Seniors last week. His consistent performances had caught the Continue reading
O’Brien takes Runners Up spot in Ulster Seniors
John O’Brien (Castlemartyr)
Castlemartyr’s John O’Brien took second place at the Ulster Seniors in Lough Erne yesterday, the Corkman shot a second round 77 to finish one behind Ballybunion’s Peter Sheehan. O’Brien also claimed top spot in the 55-59 category. The Castlemartyr member had held the lead after opening with a two under par 70 on Monday, O’Brien was the only golfer to break par in the first round. It was looking good for O’Brien but Sheehan played the back nine in two under to leapfrog the Corkman. Sheehan was the only golfer to master the back nine, effectively sealing the win for the Ballybunion member. O’Brien has been playing some great golf recently and less than two weeks ago he shot a 66 in Blarney to set a new course record.
Karl Bornemann was just one shot back from Continue reading
Douglas celebrate International Success
Douglas Golf Club recently celebrated the successes of three of their members, all three were capped for Ireland this year. Sara Byrne, Karl Bornemann and Peter O’Keeffe were the centre of attention on the evening when members, families and friends gathered at the club. As well as receiving presentation from the club, the trio were also granted honorary membership from the club with Management Committee Chairman Jerry Cronin presenting certificates to all three. It was a great year for all three golfers. In addition to being selected for Ireland Girls, Sara Byrne was also selected for the GB&I team that played in the Junior Vagliano trophy in Italy early in the season. She also Continue reading
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