Cork Ladies have been to the fore of Irish golf for close to 100 years, with many leading the way both in Ireland and abroad. Cork has produced major winners since the 1920’s and there’s every chance we’ll be adding a few more titles with the current generation. Due to the difference in the number of men’s events compared with women’s events, it wasn’t possible to Continue reading
Sara Byrne
Top Class week for Douglas
Sean Reddy pictured after winning the Connacht Buys U14 Championship.
As weeks go, last week was pretty impressive for Douglas Golf Club. A national title, a provincial title and a few key wins in inter-club matches meant that Douglas had an exceptional week. Karl Bornemann and Sean Reddy brought back some silverware from their events in Waterford and Mayo. Peter O’Keeffe reached the final four in the North of Ireland at Royal Portrush and there were inter-club wins in the Womens Senior Cup, Mens Senior Cup and the Barton Shield.
As well as their members performances around the country, they also hosted the Munster Under 16 Boys Open. This was the first open event to be held over the newly rated black course. The par 70 layout see’s the 3rd and 18th reduced to par fours, and new tees in place on Continue reading
International Cap for Bryne, Leinster Success for Murphy
Sara Byrne
Sara Byrne made another jump forward in her golfing journey, the Douglas golfer was named in the Irish team to compete in the European Team Championships in Royal County Down next week. This is the first senior womens cap for the 19 year old golfer and she was delighted to be named in the team. “I’m delighted to have been selected on the women’s team” said Sarah after the announcement, “I’m over the moon to get my first senior cap! It’s really nice that it’s on in Royal County Down, a nice home advantage for the week. I’m really Continue reading
Gallery: AIG Irish Women’s Close 2021
Pictures from Ballybunion: Continue reading
Byrne settling into life in Miami
University of Miami’s Sara Byrne
While there’s still no golf action in Cork, Sara Byrne was in action in Orlando last week. The Douglas golfer is in her first year at University of Miami, and despite being in Florida since August, this was her first event for the Hurricanes. It was an impressive debut for the 18 year old, she finished in the top twenty and helped Miami to third place in the team competition.
Having spent the past 6 years on the Irish scene and working with the ILGU high performance squads, moving to Miami in August was a big change. Covid meant the cancellation of the Fall series of tournaments so it was a quiet for the 2018 Irish Close winner. “When I arrived in August it certainly was very different to what I had Continue reading
Douglas Golfing History
For over 110 years, Douglas Golf Club has looked over the city, ideally positioned on its elevates site on Maryborough Hill. The original course was designed by golf legend Harry Vardon, a six time winner of the British Open. Vardon designed the original eighteen hole layout after walking the land which was leased from Patrick McAuliffe. The groundsmen worked with Tramore’s John McNamara who oversaw the build, and the first nine holes opened in December 1909. The second nine opened a few months later and the first competition on the new course was held in April. The course was an overnight success, drawing in a large membership from the Continue reading
The Year that was 2019
James Sugrue pictured with Irish Mens Captain John Carroll
2019 was a stellar year for Cork golfers. With seven Corkmen winning international caps, there were plenty of great performances among several notable individual wins. Just three years ago there wasn’t a single Cork golfer on the national mens squad, this year there were three golfers to reach that standard in what must be regarded as a great run for Cork golf. With three seniors, one boys and three mens representatives, it was an impressive number of caps. Top of the list of course was James Sugrue, the Amateur Champion. The Mallow man won the Castletroy Scratch Cup in May, but less than a month later his world would change with the win of a lifetime in Portmarnock. An Amateur Championship win seemed unlikely at a few stages during that week in Dublin. After just five holes on the first day of qualifying Sugrue branded the course as “insanely long”, and he found himself three down deep into the back nine in the second round of matchplay. In what was a marathon rather than a sprint, Sugrue played himself into form, thanks in equal parts to a new Titleist driver, solid advice from Neil Manchip and a hot putter. On that Saturday morning playing in the Amateur Championship final, few would have thought it was his seventh round of the week. He sprinted into a five up lead against Scotland’s Ewan Walker. Despite the impressive start, the final would prove to be another marathon lasting the full 36 holes. The Mallow man, watched by a record crowd of over 3,000 claimed the win on the final green, becoming the second Cork golfer after Jimmy Bruen to win the Amateur Championship. That win saw Sugrue’s schedule change, with an unplanned visit to Portrush for the Open championship taking priority in his calendar. James was very unlucky to miss the cut, a lost ball on the 14th on Friday cost him a place at the weekend when Shane Lowry created his own bit of history. Although injury hampered Sugrue towards the end of the season he had the honour of raising the Irish flag at the Walker Cup in Royal Liverpool in September.
Peter O’Keeffe
Peter O’Keeffe started the year off with a win, he came out on top in Muskerry in April winning their senior scratch cup. A five under par 66 gave O’Keeffe a good start and he was under par again in the second round to win the competition by two strokes. It was the second time that O’Keeffe won in Muskerry, his first coming 13 years ago in 2006. O’Keeffe was fifth in the East of Ireland and topped that by reaching the final of the North in July. Prior to the North he spent the week in Lahinch caddying for Robin Dawson in the Open. Peter finished second in the North of Ireland, which this year moved to Portstewart and Castlerock due Portrush staging the Open Championship. He lost out to Englishman Aaron Edwards Hill after a final that went to the 17th hole. The Douglas man was back in Lahinch later on in July, this time as a player in the South of Ireland. He started well, finishing in the top ten after the Strokeplay qualifier. He then Continue reading
Hickey, Byrne, Thompson, Cassidy & Murphy all in international action today
Fionn Hickey
Muskerry’s Fionn Hickey made his international debut this week, and the 16 year old did himself proud at the Boys Home Internationals. The annual event took place in Ashburnham Golf Club in Wales and Ireland opened with a win over Scotland on Tuesday. It was a disappointing start for Fionn as he narrowly lost his singles match. There was better luck for the Muskerry man yesterday as Ireland beat Wales and Fionn won his singles match against Toby Bishop. That win set Ireland up for a winner takes all match against England today. Hickey partnered Dylan Keating for a half this morning with Ireland taking a lead, the score was 3.5 to 1.5 after the foursomes. Fionn won his match this afternoon, but the wind was in the English sails. They won six of the matches to win by a single point and take the title. While the final result was a disappointment, England were the favourites and solid play from Hickey on his debut will spur him on for a strong end to the season.
Girls & Womens Home Internationals
Sara Byrne was also in action for the Irish Girls over the Continue reading
Senior Cap for Thompson, Byrne to lead Irish Girls, Home Internationals
Rachel Thompson
Rachel Thompson is set to earn her first senior Irish cap next month following her selection on the Irish Ladies team for the Home Internationals. On the back of her win at the Connacht Senior Womens title, the Cork member would have been high on the list of probables, and earlier today her place was confirmed. A strong team was named as Ireland hope go one better this year and win the event. Clodagh Coughlan was selected as a non-travelling reserve, the Douglas golfer’s performance at the recent interprovincials brought her onto the national radar.
Sara Byrne was selected as part of the seven strong Girls team. This will be Byrne’s third year playing in the Home Internationals, a pretty big achievement considering she first played in the Under 18 competition when she was just 15. Sara is now a senior on the team, but Continue reading
Byrne takes runners-up spot at Irish Girls Close
Sara Byrne, Picture: Pat Cashman
Sara Byrne came up just short of winning her second Irish Championship today, she was runner-up at the Irish Girls Close at Galway Golf Club. The Douglas golfer was in a fine vein of form, and had made the final day with relative ease. On Tuesday she shot a second round 71 (-2) to take second place in the strokeplay qualifier. That meant she was safely through to the matchplay phase. On Wednesday she wrapped up her first round match on the 14th, and on Thursday she beat Emily Murray and Lucia Masding to book a place in this morning’s semi-final.
Byrne got off to a great start this morning in the semi-final, going three up against Aine Donegan. But when the finished out on the 18th it was all square. Donegan’s comback included a birdie on the 17th and a chip in birdie on the last hole, but on the 24th – the sixth tie hole – it was Byrne who had the rub of the green. An eagle putt estimated at just over 30 feet dropped in to send the Douglas teenager into the final.
Sara faced leading qualifier Beth Coulter in the final and the 15 year old from Kirkistown Castle got off to a flier. Coulter was four under for the front nine, continuing a great run of golf in Galway. She was three up after six holes but Byrne birdied the 6th, eagled the 7th and birdied the 8th to Continue reading
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