Padraig Dooley

Fitting the Key to Better Golf

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PGA Professional Padraig Dooley.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

It’s that time of year, the manufacturers have released their new golf clubs and the dazzling marketing claims and new terminology are tempting golfers to change.  Speed optimised, jailbreak speed frame, carbonwood, rebound frame and zero CG are some of the buzzwords doing the rounds this year as the manufacturers do their best to convince golfers to upgrade.  While the technology continues to improve, the price also increases with new drivers now averaging over €500 in the premium space and iron sets even more expensive.  For many club golfers a new set of clubs might cost more than their annual subscription.  While many golfers will buy off the shelf, an increasing number are choosing custom fitting.

Padraig Dooley is a PGA professional and for well over a decade he has been building up a large base of customers who Continue reading →

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Top Ten finish for Davey Barry at Irish PGA Championship

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Davey BarryDavey Barry continued his solid run of form with a top ten finish at the Irish PGA Championship in Bunclody.  After a very impressive 68 yesterday, the Douglas Pro finished with a one over par 73, which saw him claim 7th place.  It’s his fourth top ten of the season after positive results in Dromoland, Malahide and of course his win in the Conor O’Dwyer Pro-Am in Kilkea Castle.  There were two birdies on Davey’s card today, bringing his total for the week to 10.  At the start of the season he committed to give €10 to charity for every birdie he had in competition.  He already has close to 40 birdies in the bag for the season and with a few more events left on the calendar.  He’s headed for Derry this evening for the City of Derry Pro Am which Continue reading →

Super 68 from Davey Barry at Irish PGA Championship

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Davey Barry pictured on the range at Douglas Golf Club.Picture: Niall O'Shea

Davey Barry pictured on the range at Douglas Golf Club. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Davey Barry jumped into contention at the Irish PGA Championship in Bunclody, a second round 68 saw him move 15 places on the leaderboard into a tie for third place.  Barry went out in a level par 37 after two birdies and two bogies.  A birdie on the 10th started his back nine nicely, and he went on the have three more to sign for a four under par 68.  Added to his opening 74, he’s now on two under, five shots off the lead.  And the change in form had a lot to do with a new putter according to the Douglas GC Professional.  “I spent an hour on the putting green last night with a new putter, and it worked pretty well.  I also hit 16 greens so that also helped” said a delighted Davey.  “I played well yesterday but the putting was off.  Today was much better though.”  Barry’s 68 was one of only three scores in the 60’s.

Cian McNamara is in 20th place with Padraig Dooley and Jack Howard Continue reading →

Sugrue Strikes again in Cork

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John Dooley presenting first prize to Dan Sugrue in Cork Golf Club

Dan Sugrue struck again, winning the Munster PGA Winter Series singles in Cork Golf Club with a fine 67 in fine conditions.  This is Dan’s fourth win of the season, and it means he has extended his clear lead in the Winter Series Order of Merit.  After a steady start where he parred the opening five holes, the man from Dooks birdied the 6th and 8th, although he gave a shot back on the 9th to turn on -1.  An eagle on the 11th got him going again and two more birdies on the 15th and 17th saw him sign for a five under par round of 67.  David Ryan, who generally features on a course he knows very well, opened brightly and he was three under through six holes.  While he dropped shots on the 9th and the 10th, he had another three birdies on the back nine which saw him finish on 68 (-4).  Gary Howie was the only other player to break par, he took third place with a 70 while Jack Howard and Ted Higgins were tied Continue reading →

Another Monday, another win for Danny. Munster PGA

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MPGA Castlemartyr Nov2018_1Dan Sugrue made it three from three in Castlemartyr on Monday when he won the third Munster PGA outing of the 2018 Winter Series.  In fact it was a double for Sugrue as he teamed up with his brother John and Tim Rice to claim the team prize. Sugrue had a flawless front nine of 32 with birdies on 4,6,8 and 9.  He had a further birdie 2 on 12 followed by his only drop shot on 13 – his first in 49 holes of competitive golf.  His final birdie came on 15 for an inward 35.

David Barry started with 3 birdies in the first four, he bogeyed 7 and 11 but birdied 17. Tim Rice birdie 3,7 and 8 to turn in 33, he had a lone bogey on 10 and finished with 8 pars.  Cormac Flannery birdied the first, bogeyed 3, he doubled the 5th which included a 2 stroke penalty for playing from the wrong tee but he finished the front nine strongly by eagling the 8th and birdieing 9.  He birdied 12 and 13 with his lone bogey on the back nine coming on the 16th.  Dan Sugrue, John Sugrue and Tim Rice had thirteen birdies between them to win the team event by three points.  The event was hosted by Castlemartyr’s PGA Professional Alan Gleeson.

Munster PGA Winter Series, Castlemartyr Links

Singles
1st – Dan Sugrue – Dooks GC 67
T2nd – David Barry – Douglas GC 70
T2nd – Tim Continue reading →

Two from Two for Sugrue

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Danny Sugrue receiving first prize from Cormac Flannery (Killarney) and Padraig Dooley (Captain, Munster PGA)

Danny Sugrue claimed his second win of the Munster PGA Winter Series in Killarney yesterday, shooting a 69 on Killeen.  Although the ground has softened and the air temperatures are cooler, the course in Killarney was in great condition.  Sugrue made the most of the clam conditions, posting his second bogey free round of the series to win by one stroke.  The Dooks Club Professional, who served his time in Killarney, is clearly back on form after taking time off to recover from serious surgery.  Cahir Park’s David Ryan was second with a 69, helped by a great recovery on the 8th hole after being blocked out after his drive  (scroll down for video).  There was a tie for third place with Gary Howie and Paul O’Neill finishing on 73.  The day also featured a team three ball event, just to keep everyone on their toes.  The first prize was taken by David Hayes, Gary Howie and Padraig Dooley with David Ryan, Shane O’Sullivan and Colin O’Gorman taking second place.  The next event in the series is scheduled to take place in Castlemartyr Golf Links. Continue reading →

Higgins & Sugrue claim Fota Island win, Munster PGA Winter Series

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Munster PGA Fota Island Nov 2018

Munster PGA Captain Padraig Dooley pictured with Cian McNamara and Brian, Liam and David Higgins prior to the Munster PGA event in Fota Island on Monday. Picture: Niall O’Shea

The Munster PGA got their Winter Series off to a great start on Monday with a very successful competition in Fota Island.  Close to thirty club professionals turned out for the first event of the series, one of four events planned to take place before Christmas.  Fota Island was the venue for the first outing, with the three time Irish Open venue hosting the popular fourball as usual.  Comeptition was close, that was until the card from David Higgins and  Dan Sugrue came in with the Kerry pair claiming first place.  Higgins is a regular winner in the series but it was the first win in a while for Sugrue.  The Dooks based Professional was in hospital following a very serious operation just 11 months ago, but it was like old times on Monday when the Kerry native came home in first place.  Sugrue had five birdies, including three in a row from the 5th to the 7th.  Sugrue’s -5 was Continue reading →

McNamara through to DDF Irish Open

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Monkstown’s Cian McNamara pictured at his custom fitting bay at the range in Monkstown Golf Club. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Cian McNamara booked his place in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open this week with a dramatic playoff win this evening in Rosapenna.  The Monkstown professional was tied for fourth place after the opening round, and at the end of 36 holes he was tied with tour professional Kevin Phelan for the fourth and final qualifying place.  It was the Limerick native who won through in the play-off.  After halving the first playoff hole, Phelan’s approach to the second found the rough and two putts meant that he carded a five.  McNamara was on in two with around 30 feet for birdie.  He rolled his birdie putt up to less than two feet and tapped in the par to win the final place.  He now faces a tough decision on whether to travel to St Anne’s Old Links on Tuesday for final qualifying for the Open Championship in what’s sure to be a busy week.

Simon Thornton won the event and claimed the top prize of €6,000 a well as a Continue reading →

More to do for Cork crew in Rosapenna

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Cian McNamara_1Cian McNamara and James Sugrue have a solid chance of making the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open after the opening round of the Rosapenna qualifier. McNamara shot a three under par round of 69 to lie in 4th place at the halfway stage.  After a bogey on the 5th he came back in four under par, with a final birdie on the 17th to get himself back into contention.  James Sugrue is two shots back on -1, and currently in 10th place.  Sugrue had an interesting round, made up of seven birdies and six bodies.  irrespective of what happens tomorrow both golfers will travel to the UK from Donegal to take part in final qualifying for the British Open.

Jack Howard is tied for 15th on +1, Davey Barry and Padraig Dooley are both tied for 25th place after rounds of 75 (+3).  Given that the best scores today were -5 it’s unlikely that Continue reading →

Top Ten for McNamara as Higgins wins, Irish Club Professional Tournament

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David Higgins 2017David Higgins retained his PGA Irish Club Professional title in Dromoland today.  The Waterville man shot a second successive 70 to win by three and ahead of a three way tie for second which included Colm Moriarty, Brian McElhinney and Richard Kilpatrick.  Higgins had a steady round one birdie on the front nine was balanced by a bogey on the back nine as he eased to his first Irish Region win of the new season.

Cian McNamara carded a two under par 70 which tied for the low round of the day.  He was level par for the front nine but an eagle 2 on the par 4 tenth hole got his round going.  He birdied the 15th to get to -3 but a dropped shot on the last hole saw him finish on +5 for the tournament and take a share of 10th place.

Padraig Dooley added a 78 today after shooting a 73 yesterday, he finished two shots behind McNamara in 14th place.  David Ryan was the only other Cork golfer in action in Dromoland, he shot a second round 78 to finish in the middle of the pack in 34th place.

“I was delighted with that today. With it being so windy there was disaster around every corner so I kept it steady and kept the big numbers off my card,” said the 44-year-old.  “It was a great couple of days, fantastic weather and a spectacular setting for the course which was set up tough. It played a bit ‘linksy’ which was right up my alley and considering the course set-up and the high winds I was delighted to shoot level par.”

Higgins was happy to get off the mark today: “I’m delighted to get off to a good start. The standard is getting better each year on the Irish Region and every win is going to be crucial in the order of merit race.  I was my first time to Dromoland, its a cracking venue and definitely worth a visit for any golfer.”  Next up for Higgins is a EuroproTour even in Ballykisteen next week and then it’s on to the Roganstown Golf Hotel Pro-Am in Monday week.

As well as a busy schedule on the Irish Region tour, Higgins also has a place in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, and the links specialist is looking forward to July: “I haven’t played Portstewart yet but I hear it is a great links.  I would love for the wind to blow really strong during the week of the open.  I feel this would play right into my hands and give me my best chance of doing well.”

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