Munster Golf

8 Clubs left in Michael Cashman Fourball

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Munster Golf_Michael Cashman Trophy Presentation_LGE

Michael John Roche and JJ Sheehan from East Cork Golf Club presenting John Moloughney, Munster Branch GUI with the Michael Cashman Trophy which will be played for in the Munster Club Fourball competition.  The trophy was presented in honour of former Munster Branch Chairman and East Cork member. Picture: Niall O’Shea

The first round of the Michael Cashman Fourball took place over the past three weeks and there are eight clubs left in the second round.  The competition has an unusual format in that three of the five matches take lace in the first named club and the other two matches take place in the second club.  All five matches must be played on the same day.  The six first round matches were completed during June and the second round matches must be completed by 3rd July.

Nationally the competition is called the All Ireland Fourball Inter Club competition, and all Munster clubs are playing for the Michael Cashman Trophy.  The is the first year the competition has been played and is limited to golfers with a handicap of 16 or higher, with a minimum combined handicap of 36.

 

Round 1 Results:
Bandon bt Bantry Bay 3/2
Douglas bt Cork 3/2
Macroom bt Lee Valley 3/2
Fermoy bt East Cork 3/2
Lisselan bt Fernhill 3.5/1.5
Mallow bt Mahon 3/2

Round 2 Draw:
Muskerry -v-Bandon
Douglas -v- Mallow
Monkstown -v- Lisselan
Fermoy -v- Macroom

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O’Rourke jumps into automatic spot on Order of Merit

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Munster Strokeplay Championship 2016

Ian O’Rourke

Ian O’Rourke made a jump of seven places on the Munster Senior Order of Merit thanks to his top eight finish at the East of Ireland at Co Louth.  The Cobh native had two great under par rounds on the final day to jump up the leaderboard.  O’Rourke is now in third place on the order of merit, and more importantly holds one of the four automatic places.  Cathal Butler made the cut at the East to extend his lead at the top of the table and Gary O’Flaherty remains in second place after a very strong May.  Andrew McCormack drops down to fourth place and there are three players tied for fifth place.  Mark Shanahan, Robin Dawson and James Sugrue are all on 90 points, just 10 points behind McCormack.

There are just three official events remaining on the calendar, the British Amateur takes place this weekend with Eanna Griffin, Geoff Lenehan and John Hickey all hoping to make the draw.  The Connacht Strokeplay also takes place this weekend,  and the Kerry Scratch Cup (Tralee) takes place the following weekend.

Munster Senior Order of Merit (after 11 Events)*

Pos. Name Total
1 Cathal Butler 150
2 Gary O’Flaherty 120
3 Ian O’Rourke 110
4 Andrew McCormack 100
5 Mark Shanahan 90
6 Robin Dawson 90
7 James Sugrue 90
8 John Hickey 85
9 Pat Murray 65
10 Eanna Griffin 60
11 Dave Redden 45
12 Geoff Linehan 45
13 Mark Ford 40
14 Peter O’Keeffe 30
15 Sean Barry 30
16 Gary Ward 30
17 Thomas Neenan 30
18 Ian Spillane 30
19 Declan King 30
20 Daniel Brennan 30
21 Fergal O’Sullivan 25
22 Ian O’Flynn 20
23 Mark Healy 20
24 Gavin Young 20
25 Daniel Hallissy 20
26 Emmet Leahy 20
27 C O’Donnell 20
28 Jack Ryan 15
29 Paul Tobin 15
30 Paul Flynn 15

Repairit-ie_1*Based on results received from host clubs, using the published weightings for each event, this is an unofficial list

Order of Merit Race Heats Up

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Munster Strokeplay Championship 2016

Gary O’Flaherty

Gary O’Flaherty’s performances in Castletroy, Cork and Ballybunion this month will have moved him up the Munster Senior Order of Merit.  There are four automatic places in the team from the Order of Merit, and three of them look like going to Cathal Butler, Andrew McCormack and Gary O’Flaherty.  Mark Shanahan, John Hickey and James Sugrue are all battling for the last automatic place, as are Waterford duo Eanna Griffin and Robin Dawson.  There are plenty of points on offer over the coming weeks.  The East of Ireland takes place next week and the Tralee Scratch Cup, the Connacht Strokeplay and the British Amateur all take place in June.  Captain Phil Cooney will have a tough job selecting his four picks as all of the above along with Pat Murray, Ian O’Rourke, Peter O’Keeffe and Continue reading →

Play-off Delight for Butler

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Munster Strokeplay Championship 2016

Cathal Butler (Kinsale) winner of the Munster Strokeplay Championship at Cork Golf Club.

Cathal Butler recorded his second major win of the season when he won a play-off yesterday to scoop the Munster Strokeplay Championship.  Butler was seven strokes off the lead going into the final round but jumped up the leaderboard thanks to some great play.  Butler birdied the 2nd, 6th and 9th but gave one back on the 7th where the pin had caused several problems for the field.  He then went on a burst with three consecutive birdies on 11,12 and 13, and after parring the 14th he was five under and leading the tournament by two shots.

Further back on the course, 54 hole leader Gary O’Flaherty had dropped a few shots and it looked like it would be an all Cork battle between O’Flaherty and John Hickey.  A large number of spectators were Continue reading →

Day 3 Abandoned at Munster Youths

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Munster Youths 2016 Winner

Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little/NUIM) receiving the Munster Youths trophy from John Moloughney, Chariman Munster Golf and Carl Toal, Captain Monkstown Golf Club. to bad weather on the final day. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Despite everyone’s hope that the forecasted weather would pass over Cork, the wind and persistent rain forced organisers to abandon play on Day 3 of the Munster Youths at Monkstown Golf Club.

The rain started around 7.30am and it looked like the golf might be completed in the morning.  47 golfers started at 9am sharp but by 10am greens were starting to flood from the heavy rain.  At 10.30 tournament director Sean O’Leary in consultation with the tournament committee and the Monkstown staff had no alternative but to abandon the third round.  The result was declared on the basis of the results of the first 36 holes.  And so the title went Continue reading →

Sugrue leads four Cork golfers in top 20 at Munster Youths

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Monkstown Clubhouse

Early morning sunshine burns away the frost from the clubhouse at Monkstown as Day 2 at the Munster Youths gets underway. Picture Niall O’Shea

Mallow’s James Sugrue is the best placed Cork golfer going into the final round of the Munster Youths at Monkstown Golf Club.  The 2014 winner is three shot behind leader Jack McDonnell who shot 73 to finish on -1.  Sugrue is tied for second on +2, Hugh O’Hare from Fortwilliam is also on +2.

Kinsale’s Eric Rumley followed yesterday’s 70 with a 76 and that saw him drop from 3rd to a tie for 12th.  John Murphy is also tied for 12th place, both are seven shots off the lead so at best their chances of winning are marginal.  Cathal Butler is the third of four Kinsale golfers to make the cut, he added a 71 today to his 74 from yesterday, he is now in 6th place but is six strokes off the lead.

Munster Youths Amateur Open Scoring

Adam McSweeney (Douglas) finished in 24th place along with Alan Riordan (Muskerry).  Bandon’s Brian O’Connell was a shot Continue reading →