2015 Review of the Year – Part 3

December 30, 2015December 30, 2015 / niall@corkgolfnews.com

July

There were four Cork golfers in action in the Inter-Provincials which took place in Donegal’s Rossapenna. Gary O’Flaherty, John Hickey, Dave O’Donovan and Ian O’Rourke all played their part in a sprited defence of the title they won in 2014. Munster started well in the first two days with wins over Connacht and Ulster, but they lost out in a winner takes all match with Leinster.

Philip Quinn (Douglas)

Philip Quinn (Douglas) had two dramatic finishing holes in the qualifier final of the AIG Junior Cup. Douglas were looking like losing to Mahon but the experienced 5 handicapper won the 17^th and 18^th in Cork GC to overturn a deficit and secure the third and Continue reading →

Successful finish for Turner on Asian Tour

December 20, 2015December 20, 2015 / niall@corkgolfnews.com

Niall Turner3 Niall Turner completed his first year back on the Asian Tour with a top five finish at the season ending Phillipine Open. After two years on the Asian Development Tour, Turner earned a full card by finishing third in the Order of Merit last year. Turner had already secured a full tour card for next year, but he went on to card three rounds in the 60’s for a high placed finish in the rain shortened event.

The Ballincollig native was in seventh place going into the final round and opened brightly with a birdie on the Continue reading →

Muskerry Lead the Charge for New Members

November 19, 2015November 19, 2015 / niall@corkgolfnews.com

Muskerry are one of the early birds looking at 2016, they have put in place a very attractive offer for new members under the age of 35. Munster clubs have seen membership drop by over 20% in the past five years, that’s over 7,400 members between the 86 clubs. Nationally the game has lost almost 50,000 members so many clubs are now looking at new ways to attract and retain members. In addition to the membership loss, clubs are also having to manage an aging profile. This has an impact on revenue and in many clubs, older members qualify for discounts or reduced membership fees. At a recent EGM, Muskerry approved a new scheme that will see new members pay €520 in their first year of membership. They then graduate to €700 in the second year and €900 in the third year. After the third year Continue reading →

Turner in Top 10 in Macau

October 17, 2015October 17, 2015 / niall@corkgolfnews.com

Niall Turner shot a four under par 67 overnight to jump up to 8th spot in the Venetian Macau Open on the Asian Tour. That’s three under par rounds for Turner in the event where he has made the cut for a second successive week. Going into the third round the Muskerry man was in 19th place on four under. Another good round tomorrow should see him earn a sizeable cheque and improve his chances of retaining his full tour card.

Niall Turner

Turner had an opening bogey followed by two birdies, and he followed that with another bogey in an eventful four holes. He added four birdies in the remaining holes to sign for a 67. Royal Dublin’s Niall Kearney missed the cut after two successive 73’s.

Muskerry Aiming for Back to Back Barton Shield Titles

September 9, 2015September 10, 2015 / niall@corkgolfnews.com

Action from the AIG Barton Shield Munster Final at Dungarvan Golf Club. Saturday 15th August 2015. Picture: Niall O'Shea

Muskerry after winning the AIG Barton Shield Munster Final at Dungarvan Golf Club. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Muskerry make the almost familiar trip back to Carton House next week with high hopes of creating history with their AIG Barton Shield Team. Having beaten four teams in South Munster, they racked up another two wins at the Munster finals stage to book their place in the national finals. Now they are just two matches away from back to back wins in one of golf’s most prestigious national competitions. They head off to Carton House with a settled team featuring just one change from last year. The experienced John Waldron has stepped down and that has given an opportunity to someone else to step up and join the winning team. That opportunity fell to Shane Whooley and the rookie has excelled all year long. Whooley started the year playing off 2, but had several impressive performances in the early Continue reading →

Desmond wins Bruen Youths in Muskerry

August 28, 2015August 29, 2015 / niall@corkgolfnews.com

Sean Desmond (Monkstown) receiving the Bruen Youths Trophy from David Bruen, also included are David Taylor Captain Muskerry and Richard Cahill Sponsor.

Monkstown’s Sean Desmond won the Bruen Youths in Muskerry on Monday, rounding off an impressive year for the scratch golfer. Desmond was a key part of Monkstown Senior Cup team this season and the impressive young golfer has had a share of disappointments in the last few weeks. He was part of two Monkstown teams that narrowly lost out in Munster finals in the AIG Senior Cup and in the Junior Foursomes. He also had a good run in the Kerry Boys in Ballybunion before going out at the semi-final stage. On Monday he led a field of fifty golfers to win the prestigious youths title which has taken place for each of the past 30 years. In the morning he led the first round with a level par 71, tied with Muskerry’s James O’Connor. Birdies on the 1^st, 7^th and 9^th helped Desmond build his score. Three more birdies followed in the second round, all on the front nine again. A double bogey on the 13^th in the afternoon was the only real blemish on a very solid 36 holes. His two round total of 144 was one shot better than Daniel O’Sullivan Continue reading →

Muskerry’s Egan wins Munster Boys Under 14 Championship

August 20, 2015August 20, 2015 / niall@corkgolfnews.com / 1 Comment

Muskerry’s Jack Egan won the Munster Boys Under 14 Championship today at East Cork Golf Club. Egan shot the low round of the day and his one over par 70 beat the runner up by three shots. The young Muskerry man had a very steady front nine, with a bogey on the third hole the only blemish. He birdied the tricky par three 16^th to get back to level par but gave the shot back on the following hole. He parred the 18^th to sign for a 70, four shots better that his handicap of five. Second place went to Scott Millar who travelled from Clandeboye and the Castle Dargan Continue reading →

Muskerry Retain AIG Barton Shield Munster Title

August 20, 2015August 20, 2015 / niall@corkgolfnews.com / 1 Comment

Action from the AIG Barton Shield Munster Final at Dungarvan Golf Club. Saturday 15th August 2015.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Muskerry’s Barton Shield team completed phase two of their plan to match last year’s heroics, after winning the competitive South Munster qualifiers, they went on and secured a second successive Munster title last Saturday in Dungarvan. Now they face a trip back to Carton House next month for the finals of the AIG Cups and Shields, and they have a great chance of retaining the national title. The experienced side have one change from last year, Shane Whooley has filled the spot held by John Waldron and has slotted into the seamlessly going on his recent performances. On Saturday morning they faced Youghal in an all Cork clash. Youghal had come through the East Munster qualifier, and despite Conor Coyne leading the team they couldn’t keep pace with Muskerry and lost by five holes. Shannon came through on the other side of the draw with an impressive eight hole win over Tralee. The final was set to be a battle and it was the first of three Munster finals to be decided on Dungarvan’s 18^th green. The match started as a very evenly

Gallery: AIG Barton Shield Munster Final Continue reading →