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- Wayne O’Callaghan pictured during the Munster PGA Morgan O’Donovan Trophy at Monkstown GC. Picture: Niall O’Shea
PGA Munster
Whyte Wins in Waterville – Munster PGA
Bill Rushby presenting first prize to joint winners Danny Sugrue, David Higgins and David Whyte at the Waterville Munster PGA Pro-Am, also included is Liam Burns, Captain Munster PGA.
Picture: Niall O’Shea
Frankfield’s David Whyte made a return to the winners circle on Monday as he shared the top spot in the William Rushby Waterville Pro-Am. Whyte shot a leading 73 and was matched by Waterville’s own David Higgins and Killarney’s Daniel Sugrue. The event was sponsored by Bill Rushby and as part of the pot, a Volvo V40 was on offer for anyone who aced the par three 4th hole. Continue reading
Ryan wins in Youghal – Munster PGA
Simon Keelan (Monkstown), Ger Brooderick (Kinsale) and Davey Barry (Douglas) pictured at the Munster PGA Captain’s Prize at Youghal Golf Club.
Picture: Niall O’Shea
Cahir Park’s David Ryan won his second event in the PGB Munster Winter Series as he won the Captain’s Prize in Youghal. Ryan shot a winning one under par 70. He held off a trio from Kerry as Danny Sugrue (Killarney), David Higgins (Waterville) and Liam Higgins (Waterville) all finished with 71. Christian Porter (Halpenny Golf) was fifth with a 72 and Cian McNamara (Monkstown) was next best with a 73. Although it was an impressive performance from Ryan, the story of the day was the second placed finish by Liam Higgins. The veteran from Waterville shot a 71, bettering his age by one at the Taylormade sponsored event. In a nice touch Liam told his assembled peers that Youghal was the first club he joined in 1963. Continue reading
Quinlivan Wins Munster PGA Event
There was local success in the Munster PGA winter series as Mike Quinlivan won in the Cobra Singles in Dromoland Castle last week. The Rathbane based PGA Professional shot a three under par 69 to win the event by a single shot. Fernhill’s Wayne O’Callaghan was second with 70 and Monkstown’s Cian McNamara was third with a 71. David Foley and David Ryan were tied for fourth place with a one over par 73. Continue reading
Ryan and Ruddy Win in Cork
The Munster PGA held their first event of 2015 this week when the Wilson Golf Singles took place in Cork GC on Monday. Despite heavy rain on Sunday night, the sun was out on Monday morning for the competition. 16 holes were in play and the scoring was keen even though the course was playing long. Despite the weather there was a full timesheet with the winter series again proving popular with PGA professionals from all over the province. David Ruddy and David Ryan took the honours as they both finished on three under par. Continue reading
O’Callaghan wins in Castlemartyr – PGB Munster PGA Winter Series
Wayne O’Callaghan bagged his first win of the Munster PGA Winter League this week. He shot a winning 66 in Castlemartyr on Monday in the fourth event of the Premium Golf Brands Winter League. The scoring was impressive and the course was in great condition. Short par 5’s and quick greens helped to set the course up for some low scores and the local pro’s duly obliged with six golfers returning under-par scores. O’Callaghan opened with a birdie on the first but followed on the par three 4th hole with a bogey. Continue reading
Sugrue Wins on Home Course
Danny Sugrue made it two wins from two in the Munster PGA Winter Series, sponsored by Premium Golf Brands. Killarney was the venue for the second event and the home course pro went around in a very impressive five under par (67). He had a three shot winning margin over Monkstown’s Cian McNamara who was the only other player to break par. Charleville’s Jamie O’Sullivan was third with 72, and Wayne O’Callaghan and John McHenry were next with 76. David Foley shot a 76 and the top ten was rounded off with Don McFarlane, Kevin Morris, Billy O’Boyle and Davey Barry shooting 77.
The next event takes place in Fota Island in Monday 1st December. The fourball competition is sponsored by Motocaddy.
Wayne heading for the US Masters of Junior Golf
Wayne heading for the US Masters of Junior Golf
By Niall O’Shea
Nine year old Wayne Whitley O’Callaghan is about to take on the golfing world. He’s heading to the US where he has qualified for two international junior golf events. Wayne will be Ireland’s only representative at the World Masters of Junior Golf in Las Vegas in July and in September he has a date in Pinehurst for the US Kids Finals. Wins in the Irish Junior Golf Tour last year saw Wayne qualify for Las Vegas, he won events in Munster, Ulster and Leinster in the under 8 category. A few weeks ago Wayne won again in Dungarvan, this time in a US Kids qualifier and went forward to the Irish finals in Portmarnock Links. The final was over nine holes and Wayne went around the shortened course in 40 strokes. The nine year old was two shots off the lead playing the last but a great tee shot on the 114 yard hole saw his ball finish just 10 feet from the hole. He made to putt to tie the lead and went on to win on the countback. Continue reading
Ryan Wins on the Double
David Ryan took the honours in Fota on Monday as the Munster PGA Professionals battled tough conditions. Almost 30 golfers took to the course and while the weather was cold and wet, Fota was in great condition given the recent winds and rain. Ryan was the only golfer to finish under par as he recorded a 69. This was Ryan’s second win in a row as he also took the honours when they played in Dungarvan two weeks ago. John McHenry was fresh from his Seniors qualifying round in Portugal as he finished tied for second place with a 74, Castlemartyr’s Brady Sherwood also finishing on the same score. Sherwood was not doubt trying to emulate his compatriot Jason Day’s feats in Arizona but came up a few shots short. Padraig Dooley was fourth with a 75, and Killarney’s Danny Sugrue secured a top six spot with a 77. Sugrue maintains his position at the top of the order of merit. Monkstown’s cian McNamara is in second place and David Ryan is a close third. The PGA Winter League continues and will conclude in late March with Monkstown hosting the Morgan O’Donovan trophy.
The GUI annual delegates meeting took place recently and two Munster motions were carried. Castletroy’s motion limiting “point one” increases to only those golfers who complete a round was passed at national level and will now be put forward to CONGU. Limerick Golf Club’s proposal to limit the maximum number of point one increments to 20 in a single year was also passed. Both motions will now go on to CONGU where the GUI will propose the changes. At the provincial ADM’s the hope was that both changes would be effective from 2015, however time will tell as the current CONGU rules fare due to run until the end of 2015.
The most contentious motion at the provincial meetings was Leinster’s motion to require golfer to have three home qualifying scores to compete in away competitions. There was a perceived issue that many golfers were using away handicaps without ever playing at their home course. The motion was passed by a narrow majority at the Munster meeting and the GUI must now decide on how this rule will be implemented by clubs. The golfing season will finally start this weekend after two months of inclement weather. The first round of the south east league takes place this weekend with ten teams taking part in the annual Bruen and Purcell warm up compeititon.
Cork Golf News 