Munster PGA

Rice wins in Killarney, Munster PGA

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Tim Rice Munster PGA Killarney Dec 2017Tim Rice won his second Munster PGA event of the season when he shot a five under par 67 in Killarney today.  Rice knocked in six birdies in an impressive round on Mahonys Point.  Close to 30 PGA Professionals played in the event, which was sponsored by John Caulfield from TaylorMade.  The scoring was very impressive with 11 golfers shooting par or better.  Cian McNamara took second place with and Fota Island’s Jack Howard picked up his first prize as a pro, he shot a 69 to finish tied for 3rd place.  Lahinch’s Donal McSweeney was fifth with a two under par 70.  The over 45 prize went  to David Whyte while the team prize was won by Tin Rice, Alan O’Meara, Jamie O’Sullivan and David Whyte.

Donal McSweeney Munster PGA Killarney Dec 2017Mahony’s Point was in great condition and Munster PGA Captain Cian McNamara thanked Cormac Flannery and David Keating for their help with another great outing.  Killeen is currently undergoing some work as a new green is being constructed on the iconic first hole.  The new green brings the water into play for the second shot and a large proportion of the work has been completed with an opening due for early next year.  The Captain also passed on his best wishes Danny Sugrue, the Dooks professional underwent major surgery last week for an ongoing condition and everyone was delighted to hear that he’s making a good recovery.

The last event of 2017 will take place next Monday in Castletroy and another good turn-out is expected.  After that a further four events are planned for early 2018, and the series is scheduled to conclude with a pro-am in Monkstown where the Morgan O’Donovan Perpetual Trophy will be played for.  The Munster PGA winter series is sponsored by Premium Golf Brands.

Munster PGA Winter Series #3
Killarney (Mahony’s Point)
Sponsored by TaylorMade Golf (John Caulfield)

1: Tim Rice, Limerick (67)
2: Cian McNamara, Monkstown (68)
T3: Jack Howard, Fota Island (69)
T3: David Ryan, Cahir Park (69)
5: Donal McSweeney, Lahinch (70)

Over 45: David Whyte
Team: Tim Rice, Alan O’Meara, Jamie O’Sullivan, David Whyte.

Castlemartyr win for Cian, Munster PGA Winter Series

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Munster PGA_ Castlemartyr 20th Nov 2017_Cian McNamaraCastlemartyr played host to the second Munster PGA event on Monday and the winner was Cian McNamara.  The Monkstown man is also the Munster PGA Captain and he went around the par 72 course in 67 strokes.  Three birdies in the first four holes set the pace for McNamara and he also birdied the 9th to turn on -4.  He added a fifth birdie on the index one 10th hole, and despite a scare on the last he kept bogies off the card which was enough to win by one.  Paddy Sheehy (Lahinch) was also on fire on the greens, recording a total of eight birdies.  Unfortunately for Sheehy his round also included four bogies, that meant he signed for a 68 taking second place.  Third place went to David Ryan who was also under par with a 71.  Darragh Morrissey took the Assistants prize while Liam Burns won the Over 45 prize.  The event was sponsored by Paul McCabe & Gerry Green from Pro Quip.

Not surprisingly the team prize went to Paddy Sheehy’s team.  He was joined by Diarmuid Fraser, Darragh Morrissey and Robert Kelly as the combined for an impressive better-ball score of 60.  Aside from having a solid game overall, the greens suited McNamara as his round included eight one putts.  He now leapfrogs Tim Rice on top of the Premium Golf Brands order of merit.  The new format of individual, team and category prizes again resulted in a large turnout, with several apologies from those unable to play.

Castlemartyr was in great shape for the event, firm fairways and fast greens were the order of the day for the 30 PGA Professionals as the took on the Ron Kirby designed inland links.  The course in Castlemartyr celebrated 10 years this summer and as usual much of the scoring happened on the front nine with several golfers turning in red numbers.  The back nine in Castlemartyr is often considered to be a stiffer test and based on the cards it played at least two shots more difficult.  Castlemartyr’s PGA Professional Alan Gleeson welcomed the Munster PGA to the resort with a complimentary breakfast which was very much appreciated, especially by the golfers who travelled from Clare, Limerick, Kerry and Tipperary.  The next event on the winter series schedule takes place in Killarney in two weeks time and in a small change to the schedule, Castletroy will host the final event before Christmas.  Another three or four singles events will be planned for January and February, and a season ending pro-am is planned for Monkstown to coincide with the Morgan O’Donovan Perpetual Trophy.

 

Rice wins in Fota Island, Munster PGA Winter Series

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Munster PGA Fota Island Tim Rice Nov 2017_2Tim Rice won the opening event of the Munster PGA winter series with a fine three under par 69 in Fota Island today.  The Limerick man took the honours with a two shot win over the field.  Playing on the Deerpark course in Fota, Rice went out in level par, although he birdied the fifth he gave the shot back on the next hole.  He birdied the 10th and then finished strongly with birdies on the 17th and 18th.  Although there was fine weather and only a light breeze, the course put up a tough test with only three golfers breaking par.  David Ryan and John Sugrue shared second place, both finished on a one under par 71.  Munster PGA Captain Cian McNamara was 4th after a level par 70 while Ger Broderick won the over 45 prize.  Shane Irwin won the Assistants prize and the team prize went to Padraig McGrath, Mark Beckett, Stephen Hayes and Davey Barry.

Almost 30 Munster Pro’s turned out for the first event of the season, which was sponsored by Ray Walsh and Acushnet.  Munster Captain Cian McNamara thanked everyone for supporting the event and Ray Walsh for his sponsorship.  He also thanked Kevin Morris from Fota Island and complimented the staff on the quality of the course.  The greens were in great condition as usual and the tightly cut fairways demanded precision.  The second event of the series takes place on Castlemartyr next week and another large attendance is expected.  The series has reverted to a pro-only format with prizes available in three categories in addition to a team prize.

Gallery: Munster PGA Winter Series, Fota Island

Fota Island Prize Winners – sponsored by Titleist Footjoy

(1)    Tim Rice  68
(2)    David Ryan / John Sugrue 70.
(4)    Cian McNamara  71
(5)    Steve Hayes, Donal McSweeney, Billy O’Boyle, Padraig McGrath  72

Over 45’s:   Ger Broderick   74
Assistants:  Shane Irwin     75
Team Prize: Padraig McGrath, Stephen Hayes, Mark Beckett, Davey Barry

Munster PGA, Fota Island Resort, 13th Nov 2017

 

Ryan & Higgins on top in Monkstown, Munster PGA

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Morgan O'Donovan Perpetual Trophy 2017David Ryan and David Higgins came out on top on a glorious day in Monkstown today as the annual Morgan O’Donovan Perpetual Trophy competition took place.  Both players shot an impressive 67 and although the sun was out the combination of  a hard wind blowing and fast greens meant that only a few golfers managed to break par.  The competition is now in it’s fifth year and commemorates Morgan O’Donovan who was Head Professional in Monkstown before his death in 2012. The competition today was sponsored by Ping and the pro-am format saw plenty of Munster PGA Professionals take the opportunity to get out and play with an amateur partner.

It was Higgins third time in a row to win the prestigious tournament.  Higgins had missed out on the opening events, playing his first event in Cork a few weeks ago where he shot a 73.  The former European Tour player shook off the cobwebs as he went out in a very tidy 32 strokes.  Birdies on the 4th & 5th were followed by a birdie on the 9th hole to turn on -3.  Another birdie followed on the 11th but he handed back a shot on the par three 13th.  He birdied the 15th to get back to -4, but there was one more bogey on the 18th where a tricky pin position was causing trouble for a good number of golfers.

David Ryan followed up his current good form with another 67.  He went Continue reading →

Cork win for Dooley & Ryan, Munster PGA

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munster-pga-cork-feb-2017Local knowledge seemed to give two local golfers the edge in Cork today as Padraig Dooley (Drive Golf Performance) and David Ryan (Cahir Park) won the Munster PGA event.  Over 20 golfers started out this morning and while there was a cold wind blowing through Little Island, the course was in great condition and surprisingly dry given the heavy rainfall over the weekend.  Both golfers trained under Peter Hickey and they returned today to triumph over a field of talented professionals.  Both golfers played very steady golf, Ryan was an early starter and had birdies on the 6th, 11th & 12th.  The only blemish came on the 17th, but the two under par 70 was enough to get into the winners circle.  It was a similar story for Dooley, he also birdied the 6th and the 12th.  A bogey on the 14th brought him back to -1 but a birdie on the 17th saw him sign for a 70 and take a share of Continue reading →

Rice wins in Castlemartyr

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golf_munster-pga_castlemartyr_tim-rice_dec-2016

Munster PGA Captain Stephen Hayes presents Tim Rice with first prize from the TaylorMade singles along with Brady Sherwood from Castlemartyr Links. 

The Munster PGA got together for their final winter series event before Christmas and limerick man Tim Rice took the spoils with a five under par 67.  Despite playing a relatively short course, the unusually quick and smooth greens caught a fair few golfers on the front nine and the result was that only two golfers managed to break the par of 72.  Tim Rice made his return to the local scene after missing the Killarney event as he reached the second stage of European Tour Q School.  Now back on Irish soil, the PGA Assistant from Limerick was the only golfer to stay on track for the full round at Castlemartyr.  He birdied each of the par five’s on the front nine before recording an eagle at the ninth hole.  That meant that the Limerick man turned on -4, and unlike many of the other pro’s who turned with a  good score, Rice held on to it.  A bogey on the 10th was balanced with a birdie on the 12th.  He added a birdie on the 17th in the middle of a run of five pars to secure the lead and take his first win of the current winter series.  Tralee’s John Sugrue was the only other golfer to break par, he finished with a 71 to take second place.  Killarney winner Davey Barry was also in the hunt today until he dropped a few shots on the way home.  He finished off with a level par to take third place and did his PGB Order of Merit hopes no real harm.  There was a three way tie for fourth place with Cian McNamara, David Ryan and Padraig Dooley all signing for 74’s.  The event was kindly sponsored by John Caulfield from TaylorMade Golf.

Gallery: Munster PGA at Castlemartyr

cgn-5th-dec-2016-190

David Foley, Brady Sherwood and Ciaran McKenna pictured at Castlemartyr Links. 

The course in Castlemartyr came in for great praise and resident PGA Professional Brady Sherwood was happy with the feedback: “I was delighted have my fellow Munster PGA professionals playing our course today.  The weather held out and its always nice to get very positive feedback in relation to the course set up and the playing conditions.  Our greens staff do an amazing job, the dry winter weather assisting in getting our fescue rough harvested ready for next season. It’s great to have our trademark greens running a cracking 10 on the stimp.”

David Ryan maintains his place at the top of the Premium Golf Brands Order of Merit with Cian McNamara close by in second place.  Dave Foley, Tim Rice and Davey Barry take up the next places with half of the schedule completed.  Details of the January and February will be announced shortly.

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McNamara wins in Dromoland, Munster PGA Winter Series

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cian-mcnamara-dromoland-munster-pga

Munster PGA Captain Stephen Hayes presents Cian McNamara (Monkstown) with first prize.

Cian McNamara won on the double today when he won the singles and the pro-am competitions at Dromoland Golf Club.  The Monkstown Professional won by one shot from David Ryan and only two golfers managed to break par.  Gary Howie took third place with level par and Patrick Sheehy was fourth with a 73.  Dan Sugrue, Diarmuid Frazer and David Foley all tied for fifth place

It was McNamara’s first win in the 2016 PGB Winter Series had a steady start but dropped a shot on the long par five 6th.  He struck a purple patch around the turn, knocking in four birdies in five holes.  McNamara birdied the 9th, 10th, 12th & 13th.  Unfortunately he dropped a shot in the 14th but he bagged another birdie on the closing hole.

  • McNamara also claimed the honours in the pro-am when he partnered Peter Brazil (Limerick GC) to a winning 44 points.  Ian Colleran and amateur partner Brian Lenihan took second place with 42 points.

The next event in the series takes place in Castlemartyr next Monday, the event is a pro-only event.

PGA Winter Series Event #3, sponsored by Golfbuddy
Dromoland Golf Club
1st Cian McNamara 69
2nd David Ryan 70
3rd Gary Howie 72
4th Patrick Sheehy 73
5th Dan Sugrue 74 Diarmuid Fraser 74 David Foley 74

Pro-Am Results
1st Cian McNamara and Peter Brazil 44
2nd Ian Colleran and Brian Lenihan 42

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O’Callahgan’s Raffeen Move

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Wayne O'Callaghan Easter Golf Camp 2016Carrigaline based PGA Professional Wayne O’Callaghan has recently set up a new base in Raffeen Creek Golf Club.  The popular instructor has moved from his previous base in Fernhill where he had worked for the past four years.  Wayne qualified as a PGA Professional almost twenty years ago having served his apprenticeship under Bandon’s Paddy O’Boyle.  From 1998 to 2012 he worked from the busy Carrigdhoun Golf Range and in 2012 he moved to Fernhill Golf Course.  Over the past four years Wayne developed a very strong junior programme, which incorporated quite a bit of on-course work which complimented the range and putting green aspect of the programme.  Although his time on the PGA Irish Region Tour has been limited due to his teaching commitments, Wayne did feature in the top ten a number of times this year.  Having left Fernhill in October, Wayne wasted no time in setting up a new base.  “I have now Continue reading →