Aaron Olden wins Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy

Aaron Olden (Fota Island) watches his shot during the semi-final of the Ryan’s SuperValu Junior Scratch Trophy at Muskerry Golf Club.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

18 year old Aaron Olden is the winner of the 2024 Ryans SuperValu Junior Scratch Matchplay.  The Fota Island member won six consecutive matches in Muskerry from Friday to Sunday to become the 55th winner of the famous tournament which dates back to 1970.  The Carrigtwohill native came through the qualifier and was hopeful that some good golf would follow.

“I was in good form coming into it, I had a good few low rounds in Muskerry.  In the Munster Boys I shot level par and I had a few good scores at home coming into it” said Aaron.  “It was a great experience and I was relieved.  It was a tough match against Adam and I very thankful to my caddie Donal Cronin who helped me through every shot.  I have to thank Brian Kelleher, Nigel Doyle and all the Fota crowd for supporting me, it was great Continue reading

Attridge seals win for Mallow, AIG Senior Cup

AIG Senior Cup, Mallow Golf Club, Sunday 25thth June 2017

Brian Attridge in action this morning

Mallow pulled off a great win today in the AIG Senior Cup, defeating Cork on the final hole in the final match.  Brian Attridge won the 16th and 17th to move from one down to one up and he held his advantage on the par three 18th to record a memorable win at home for the North Cork club.

Earlier in the afternoon, Paul McCarthy led out the side against Cork’s John Hickey.  Hickey won the 1st and held onto the lead after the 2nd, but that was the only time that he would be ahead.  McCarthy won the 3rd and 4th to take the lead and although Hickey levelled it twice, McCarthy took the lead back.  He was two up on the 17th tee and although Hickey won that hole, McCarthy halved the 18th to secure the first point for Mallow.  James Sugrue added the second point soon after.  Like the first match, Cork had the early advantage with Ian O’Flynn holding Continue reading

No Friday Feeling for Cork Golfers in Lahinch, South of Ireland Day 3 Report

Munster Strokeplay Championship 2016

Cathal Butler (Kinsale) 

Friday was a bad day for Cork golfers in Lahinch as the matchplay stages of the Pierse Motors South of Ireland got underway. Four Cork golfers qualified through to the top 64 matchplay, but by Friday evening all four had exited the competition.  Paul McCarthy made a stunning start to the competition on Wednesday and Thursday during the strokeplay qualifying rounds.  McCarthy was -5 for 36 holes but lost out in the matchplay when David Foy beat him on the 16th green.  Peter O’Keeffe also lost out in the first round.  Robbie Cannon, his playing partner from Wednesday and Thursday got the better of him with an impressive 6&4 win.

Golffile Gallery from Day 3 at Lahinch

John Hickey won his morning match against Rosslare’s Gary Collins but then lost out in the second round when beaten by Daniel Holland by one hole.  Kinsale’s Cathal Butler also made it through the first round with a win on the 18th green over former champions Pat Murray.  Like the other Cork golfers though, he lost out in one of the later matches this afternoon, losing on the 16th to Stephen Watts.  The final 16 are back on the course tomorrow morning and four more round face the finalists when the competition concludes on Sunday.

South of Ireland Amateur Continue reading

McCarthy continues leading role in Lahinch, South of Ireland Day 2

Paul McCarthy Munster Youths Tralee

Paul McCarthy

Paul McCarthy shot another under par round to finish the strokeplay phase in a tie for second place.  McCarthy shot a two under par 70, with two birdies in the last three holes to get back into the red.  McCarthy, currently playing off +2 was just one shot behind leader Jake Whelan from Newlands.  Peter O’Keeffe carded his second successive 74 to finish in on +4 and safely inside the cut for the matchplay phase.  Cork’s John Hickey finished one shot outside O’Keeffe, Hickey was having a solid round until the 11th when he went on to bogey five of the closing holes.  Both O’Keeffe and Hickey were in great positions after the opening round, and solid second rounds meant that they were never at risk of missing the cut.

Kinsale’s Cathal Butler was hovering around the cut line after day one and a second round 73 certainly helped his chances of making the Continue reading

Super 69 for McCarthy in Lahinch, South of Ireland Day 1 Report

Paul McCarthy (Mallow Golf Club)

Paul McCarthy (Mallow Golf Club)

Mallow’s Paul McCarthy took advantage of an early start this morning to set the tone for the opening round of the South of Ireland Championship.  McCarthy raced into the lead with a near flawless 69 and finished in second place at the end of play on the opening day.  The 2015 Munster Youths champion went out in 34 thanks to birdies on the 2nd and 8th.  He had another two birdies on the way back but dropped a shot on the index one 15th hole.  He signed for a 69 leaving him one shot off the lead held by Jake Whelan from Newlands.

McCarthy was naturally very happy with the round, especially because it was an all-round performance: “It was an all round solid day really, but if I had to pick something it was my putting which was very good from start to finish.”  McCarthy goes into day two as Continue reading

Hickey, McCarthy & Butler make the cut in the East of Ireland

Munster Strokeplay Championship 2016

John Hickey

John Hickey (Cork) remains the leading Cork golfer after the second round of the East of Ireland Championship at Baltray.  Today Hickey added a 73 to yesterday’s 71, and his level par total saw him safely through to the final day tomorrow.  Mallow’s Paul McCarthy is one shot behind Hickey, as is Kinsale’s Cathal Butler.  Paul O’Hanlon still holds the lead, his -9 total is four shots clear of the field.

Gary Ward (Kinsale) was very unlucky to miss the cut, he shot a wonderful 69 today.  Although he opened with two bogies in his first four holes, he rattled off three birdies and an eagle in five holes in the middle of his round.  Unfortunately for Ward he missed the cut by one shot, Saturday’s untidy 78 came back to cost the Kinsale man a place in the final day.  James Sugrue also missed the cut following a second round 75.

 

Hickey, McCarthy and Butler have 36 holes to play tomorrow, with order of merit points on offer all three will have an added incentive for finishing strongly.

East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship Scores

Repairit-ie_1

 

Five Cork golfers through in Rosses Point

Mark Shanahan, Cathal Butler and Seanie Barry, Ian O’Rourke and Niall Gorey all made the cut for the matchplay stage of the West of Ireland Championship.  40mph winds this afternoon forced a suspension in play and the inability to continue led to the cancellation of the second strokeplay round.   The tournament committee had a tough decision and decided to make the matchplay draw based on the first round only.

Mark Shanahan and Paul McCarthy had made the good weather on Saturday morning, they both returned 73’s to put themselves in a good position.  McCarthy was one of those adversely affected by the cancellation of Round 2, his 73 this morning to see him provisionally in 21st place with half of the second round scores in.  McCarthy’s first round 84 meant that he finished in 85th place and two shots outside the cut mark.  Cork’s John Hickey also finished on 84, two shots outside the cut.

Sean Barry (Fota Island) was the 64th and final golfer to make the cut, he’ll face leading qualifier Sean Flanagan from Co Sligo in the first game tomorrow.

West of Ireland Matchplay Draw

 

 

2015 Review of the Year – Part 2

April

AIG Junior Cup Munster Finals

Adam McSweeney (Douglas)

Easter always see’s the staging of the Ford Muskerry Junior Scratch Trophy, a unique event for golfers with a handicap of 5-11. Two qualifying days sees the top 64 golfers go through to a matchplay phase player over Easter. 19 year old Adam McSweeney from Douglas added his name to the Ford Junior Scratch Trophy after three tough days. Although he was three down after just eight holes in the final, the Junior Cup and Senior Cup golfer fought back to level the match. McSweeney went one up on the 17th and closed out the 18th to become one of the youngest winners of the 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.

Golf_Munster PGA_Wilson Cork GC_Jan2015_1

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