Munster PGA Season gets back on track

The Munster PGA will finally get their Winter Series back on track next week when they play in Castlemartyr.  Monday next will see only the third event of the weather affected season.  David Ryan won the opening event in Fota in November and Cian McNamara won last month in Adare Golf Club.  Wayne O’Callaghan was the winner last year in Castlemartyr, he shot a six under par 66 to win by one shot from John McHenry and Daniel Sugrue.  A large turn-out is expected as the 2016 half of the season eventually starts.  There are only two further events planned in the shortened season, Waterville will host the William Rushby Pro-Am next Month and the annual Morgan O’Donovan Perpetual Trophy will round off the PGB Winter Series in early April.

Golf_PGA Ireland_Danny Sugrue_Aug 2014

Danny Sugrue

Charlevile PGA Professional Frank Holly finished up in Charleville last week, marking an end of the “new” old guard at the north Cork club.  Frank had worked with Jamie O’Sullivan for several years, and now both have departed.  Holly is headed for North Carolina shortly and Monday’s Munster PGA event in Castlemartyr could be his last of the season.  Holly will have happy memories from Castlemartyr, he recorded his first competitive hole in one on the 12th hole during last year’s event.  Mark Collins was recently appointed Head Professional in Charleville, moving from Adare Golf Club.  Dooks made another addition to their staff when they announced this week that Killarney Professional Daniel Sugrue is joining the popular south-west Kerry club.  The club is a summer favourite for many Cork golfers and over the past decade the club invested heavily in developing the course and also the clubhouse.  In the off-season they announced that Maurice O’Meara was taking over the role of General Manager.  O’Meara has extensive experience in the top end of the Irish golf market.  Prior to Dooks he was Secretary/Manager of the Island Golf Club and prior to that he spent a successful term at Killarney Golf Club.  During his time at Killarney he played a key role in Killarney’s hosting of the Irish Open in 2010 and 2011.  Sugrue joins Dooks from his position as a PGA Professional attached to Killarney Golf Club.  Danny has been a prolific winner on the PGA Irish Region tour and is a two time winner of the Munster PGA Order of Merit.  He qualified for the Irish Open in 2014 at Fota Island and Sugrue will be a great addition to the Glenbeigh club.

McNamara wins final event in Adare

Cian McNamara Munster PGA AdareMonkstown’s Cian McNamara shot an impressive 68 in Adare on Monday to win the Munster PGA winter series event.  This was just the second event to take place in the series, no less than three scheduled events were cancelled due to the weather before Christmas.  McNamara had a strong finish to the season in 2015 and he’s started 2016 in sparkling form.  Although he dropped a shot early on thanks to a three putt on the 4th, he regained a stroke on the index one 5th hole.  He went on to birdie the 8th, 10th, 15th and 16th to sign for a four under par 68.  The Limerick native has been working hard over the winter season, along with coach Eddie Doyle, he’s also been working with Peter O’Keeffe’s TPI Golf Fitness based Continue reading

2015 Review of the Year – Part 1

January

2015 started with the sad news of the closure of Frankfield Golf Course.  The nine hole track existed on an elevates site on the southside of the city for over 30 years since Mick Ryan Snr laid out the course.  It must have been an emotive decision for the Ryan family, especially given that they live and work onsite.  The Ryan’s retained the very busy driving range and announced plans to extend and develop the practice facilities.  While there were many disappointed members, they all had several options to continue their golf with every other Cork club offering membership options.  PGA Professionals David Whyte and Michael Ryan are both based at the city venue and it proved to be a busy place throughout 2015.

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Joint winners Munster PGA Wilson Singles at Cork GC David Ruddy and David Ryan pictured Liam Burns, Munster PGA Captain and Peter Hickey, Cork GC. Picture: Niall O’Shea

On the course, the Munster PGA were one of the few groups to be playing competitive golf.  David Ryan used local knowledge to win the Wilson sponsored competition in Cork Golf Club.  He shot a three under par round to finish ahead of popular Bandon veteran Continue reading

Rain Stops Play for Cork’s PGA Professionals

 

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Cobh’s Club Professional David O’Sullivan who is also the current Captain of the Munster PGA.

The rain caused the postponement of the Munster PGA pro-am in Castlemartyr and this was the second event in succession that fell to the weather.  The Munster PGA Captain is David O’Sullivan and although he is disappointed with the cancellation, he had little option but to put back the event.  “The weather went against us during December and even though we had great entries for our Killarney and Castlemartyr events we decided to restage these events in the New Year” said O’Sullivan who is the Club Professional in Cobh Golf Club.  He added:  “We started the series with a Professional plus one amateur invite.  This format was something we wanted to try and after early feedback it was a huge success with our opening event held at Fota Island Resort.”  The opening event in November was won by David Ryan with a very impressive 63 on Fota’s Deerpark course.  Ryan also won the pro-am where he partnered his Dad Ellis.  The Munster PGA winter series has Continue reading

Super 63 from Ryan to win Munster PGA Opener

Munster PGA Fota Island 16th Nov 2015

Munster PGA Captain David O’Sullivan presenting the winners prize to David Ryan who shot a 63 at the opening PGB Munster PGA event. The comeptition was held at Fota Island Resort and was sponsoted by Titleist & Footjoy. Also included is Stephen Hayes, Munster PGA.

Cahir Park’s David Ryan shot a sensational eight under par 63 to win the first PGB Winter Series event at Fota Island Resort.  The event was in the new pro-am format and was sponsored by Titleist & Footjoy. Marian Riordan and Davey Barry were tied in second place on 69 and Tim Rice shot a 70 to take fourth place.  Killarney’s Dan Sugrue was fifth with a level par 71 while newcomer Conor Coyne was among those tied for 6th place in his first PGA event.

Unsurprisingly David Ryan also took the pro-am prize, he partnered with his Dad Ellis to score a winning 46 points.  Marian Riordan and Colm Riordan were second with 44 points.  Tommy Higgins won the amateur category with 41 points.  David O’Donovan and Colm Riordan were tied for second with 39 points.  The next PGB winter series event will take place in Killarney Golf Club on Monday 30th November and this will also be a Continue reading