Peter O’Keeffe

O’Keeffe leads in Tralee, Kerry Scratch Cup

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Munster Strokeplay Championship, Munster Golf, Cork Golf Club, Sunday 30th April 2017Tough weather conditions meant that the scoring was high in Tralee, but Peter O’Keeffe finished his 36 holes tied for the lead.  Rounds of 76 and 75 from O’Keeffe were matched by Tralee’s Fergal O’Sullivan.  The Tralee man has won already this season, he retained his Ballybunion Scratch Title a few weeks ago and will be fancied by locals.  Both O’Sullivan and O’Keeffe are on 151, three shots ahead of second placed John Murphy who had two rounds of 77.

Gary Ward is the next best Cork player, but he’s 11 shots off the lead and in 12th place.  Cathal Butler and James Sugrue were both in contention after the first round, but they both had afternoon rounds in the mid eighties which has all but ruled out a win.

Third round takes place tomorrow and is limited to the top 30.

Kerry Scratch Cup (36 hole scores)

151 Peter O’Keeffe, 76,75
151 Fergal O’Sullivan 76,75
154 John Murphy 77,77
155 Ted Collins 77,78
156 Evan Farrell 78, 78

Selected others:
162 Gary Ward
164 Con O’Callaghan
165 Cathal Butler
165 James Sugrue
167 Cillian Moloney
170 Conor Dowling

walker_01

O’Keeffe out of the East, strong Cork challenge remains

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com
John Murphy of Ireland during a practice round

Murphy pictured during the Alps Tour event in Clement Ader last week. Pic: Tristan Jones

Peter O’Keeffe was a late withdrawal this afternoon from the East of Ireland Championship which gets underway in Co Louth Golf Club tomorrow.  O’Keeffe was one the highest ranked qualifiers but a neck injury has prevented him from taking part.  He struggled with the problem last week during the Douglas Senior Scratch Cup and with no improvement he made the tough call to withdraw late this afternoon.  Although the Irish Open champion is missing, there’s still a strong challenge from Cork.

Munster Students Champion John Murphy (Kinsale) returned from France earlier this week and he’ll be confident from a run of recent good form while fellow Kinsale member Cathal Butler will be looking to return to the form he displayed at the Munster Students in March.  Both Sean Desmond (Monkstown) and Gary Ward Continue reading →

Major win for O’Keeffe, Flogas Irish Amateur Open

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com
Flogas Irish Amateur Open Championship at Royal County Down Golf

Peter O’Keeffe (Pic: Pat Cashman)

Peter O’Keeffe has been playing top level golf for 20 years and today he captured the top prize, the Flogas Irish Amateur Open at Royal County Down.  From an elite junior golfer he moved into the US college ranks and from there he spent close to a decade on the Challenge Tour and Europro Tour trying to make the breakthrough in the paid ranks.  In late 2015 he was reinstated as an amateur and last year he challenged on the local scratch cup circuit.  Today he broke through to elite senior golf ranks when he won the Irish Open in style.  One-stroke clear overnight, O’Keeffe cruised through much of the final round, winning by three thanks to a final round 73.  The 35-year-old from Douglas ended the week on two over, three clear of Scotland’s Christopher MacLean and England’s Tom Sloman.

Needless to say the Douglas man was delighted with the win.  “It feels fantastic.  It was tough to keep my emotions in check there going up the last,” said O’Keeffe, who claimed his maiden championship title.  “It was nice Continue reading →

O’Keeffe leads Irish Amateur going into final round, Royal County Down

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Munster Strokeplay Championship, Munster Golf, Cork Golf Club, Sunday 30th April 2017It wasn’t the low round that he promised – but in any case it was enough to give Peter O’Keeffe the lead going into tomorrow’s final round of the Flogas Irish Amateur Open.

O’Keeffe started quickly with an eagle on the opening par five, but he gave the two shots back before the turn and started the second nine level for his round.  It was an interesting back nine for all of the leading contenders.  England’s Sean Towndrow took a two shot lead on the 16th thanks to an eagle on the short par four, but two doubles followed and he closed on a 77 and +3 for the tournament.  Christopher McClean was level with O’Keeffe after 15, but bogies on the 16th & 18th saw him drop down also.

O’Keeffe continued his pattern of steady golf with the odd birdie or bogey balancing each other out.  In the end only himself and Robin Dawson (T7) could match par on the closing three holes.  That was enough for two over par 73 on day three, and surprisingly enough that see’s him with a one shot lead over Christopher McClean.  O’Keeffe (L) will be joined by Mc Clean (+1) and Marc Norton (+2) in tomorrow’s final group which tees off at 11.12.

John Murphy saw the Continue reading →

O’Keeffe and Murphy in contention in RCD, Flogas Irish Amateur Open

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Peter O'Keeffe Apr 2017_2Peter O’Keeffe and John Murphy both sit within touching distance of the lead after solid performances in round two of the Flogas Irish Amateur Open.  Royal County  Down was firm and bouncy again today but the links proved a challenge as just a dozen golfers broke par at the testing Irish Open venue.  O’Keeffe was out this afternoon and he continued in the same form as yesterday with plenty of birdies.  Two early bogies didn’t distract the Douglas member, and he got back to level before bogeying the the ninth to turn on +1.  Three birdies followed on the back nine but a dropped shot on the 14th meant that he signed for another 70 and is now one off the lead on -2.  Sean Towndrow Continue reading →

O’Keeffe leads Cork challenge at Irish Amateur Open

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Munster Strokeplay Championship, Munster Golf, Cork Golf Club, Sunday 30th April 2017Peter O’Keeffe shot a one under par 70 on the opening day of the Flogas Irish Amateur Open.  Royal County Down was playing firm and fast today thanks to the recent dry weather and it proved a test for the Irish golfers as only seven made it into the top 25.  O’Keeffe started brightly with a birdie on the first but dropped shots on 4 and 8 meant that he turned on +1.  There were no more bogies for the Douglas member, and he birdied the 10th and 12th before parring his way home.  He’s in a tie for 8th place and three shots off the lead.

Turner leads in Ballykisteen, Great National Hotels Irish Masters R2

Ian O’Rourke is the next best Cork golfer but there’s a gap of over 50 players between him and O’Keeffe.  The Cobh native had been going well, he was two under to the 14th but dropped five shots in the closing holes.  That included a triple on the 15th which saw it’s fair share of bogies, doubles and triples on the opening day.  Kinsale’s John Murphy is one shot back from O’Rourke on +4, his card featured four birdies and nine pars but the four bogies, a double and a triple took the gloss from his debut round at the Irish Amateur.  Cathal Butler (+6) and James Sugrue (+9) will hoping for an improvement tomorrow.

Scoring: Flogas Irish Amateur Open

Play in the second round gets underway at 7.00am when Ian O’Rourke will lead the field of 144 golfers.  Live scoring updates are available from Golfnet.

walker_01

Anderson claims 2nd Munster Strokeplay title

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Munster Strokeplay Championship, Munster Golf, Cork Golf Club, Sunday 30th April 2017Barry Anderson followed up his recent win the West of Ireland by claiming the Munster Strokeplay Championship in Cork Golf Club today.  Rounds of 70 & 72 saw Anderson edge out Peter O’Keeffe and Ronan Mullarney but one shot.  The 2014 champion won the West two weeks ago and followed up with another win today in tough conditions in Cork.  Anderson shot a two under par 70 this morning and needed to get up and down from the fringe on the 18th to sign for a 72.  Anderson was battling with Peter O’Keeffe, the Douglas golfer found a fairway bunker on 18, and a bad lie meant he couldn’t go for the green.  He had a 35 foot putt for par but missed, meaning Anderson won by a single stroke.  Ronan Mullarney had two rounds of 71 today and  finished tied for second place with O’Keeffe.  Mullarney also won the Carr Bruen trophy as the best Under 25. Continue reading →

McCormack & O’Donovan tied for the lead in Lee Valley

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com
Dell EMC Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup, Lee Valley Golf Club, Saturday 22nd April 2017

Andrew McCormack

After a superb day for golf, Andrew McCormack and Dave O’Donovan are tied for the lead on four under par.  O’Donovan was level par for his second round, adding to his earlier 68 while McCormack shot 69/71.  The Castletroy member clawed a shot back from O’Donovan this afternoon to tie for the lead.  Gary O’Flaherty is one shot off the leaders, he also shot level par this afternoon after a 69 this morning.

Bandon’s Donal O’Donovan had a very impressive 70 this afternoon, he’s in fourth place on 143.  Peter O’Keeffe is next on 144 after two level par rounds, and Mallow’s James Sugrue is also on 144.  John Murphy, Joe O’Sullivan and Eanna Griffin are all on 145, all three have a chance tomorrow but they will need to go low to catch and the beat the leaders.  The cut (top 30) fell at 150, two shots better than last year which is no surprise given the Continue reading →