Success for Byrne, Cork, Douglas and Munster Women

Sara Byrne teeing off the 18th in Lahinch on the final day of the Arnold Palmer Cup

Sara Byrne was one of the stars of the show last weekend as Lahinch hosted the Arnold Palmer Cup.  Byrne, the first Cork player to feature in the annual event which sees 48 top college golfers face off on American and International teams.

Byrne was paired with Max Kennedy for the mixed fourball and mixed foursomes and the pair scored two wins in their matches.  In Sunday’s singles she faced the recent winner of the Women’s Amateur, Melanie Green.  Teeing off from the 1st, there was a huge crowd around the clubhouse to follow Continue reading

Byrne gets boost for Curtis Cup

Sara Byrne 
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Sarah Byrne gave her chances of making the 2024 Curtis Cup team a huge boost last week when she made it to the final 32 of the Women’s Amateur.  Portmarnock hosted the event, it was the first time that the women’s amateur was held in the Republic of Ireland, and when Portmarnock held the Amateur Championship in 2019 that was won by Corkman James Sugrue.

Aside from her performance, Byrne was aware of the presence of Curtis Cup Captain Catriona Mathews and the fact she was looking at many of the potential team for Sunningdale at the end of August.  Byrne is hoping Continue reading

Byrne set for busy summer

Sara Byrne

Sara Byrne is back in Cork, well temporarily at least as she moves on from finishing her four years on a golf scholarship in the US.  The two-time Irish champion has a busy summer ahead, with plans to turn professional in September.

Byrne spent the last four years in University of Miami, and came away with an accountancy and finance degree as well as much improved golf game.  The 22 year old was a double winner in NCAA Division 1 events in the past year, in addition to recording several top five and top ten finishes.

Sara Byrne in 2019, Picture: Pat Cashman

“The best four years of my life” is how the reigning Irish Close champion described her time in Miami.  “I went over there with a goal to get better and come out of college ready to turn pro and that’s exactly what happened.  Along the way I managed to make the best friends and have Continue reading

Byrne named on Palmer Cup team for Lahinch

Sara Byrne pictured at Douglas Golf Club with the Irish Women’s Close Trophy in 2023.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Douglas golfer Sara Byrne has been named on the international team to play in the prestigious Palmer Cup which takes place in Lahinch in July.  The announcement came late on Tuesday and the 22 year old Senior was delighted with the news.

“Being selected was such an honour” said Byrne.  “It’s been a goal of mine for the last couple months to really perform and give myself a chance to make the team especially having it Continue reading

Byrne named on Palmer Cup Team

Douglas golfer Sara Byrne was last night named on the international team to play in the prestigious Palmer Cup which takes place in Lahinch in July.  The announcement came late on Tuesday and the 22 year old Senior was delighted with the news.

“Being selected was such an honour” said Byrne.  “It’s been a goal of mine for the last couple months to really perform and give myself a chance to make the team especially having it in Lahinch.”

“Having it at home is a cherry on top, I’m so excited to be able to compete in front of a real home crowd.”

“It feels really nice to know I had a little bit of pressure to Continue reading

Early Season promise from Reddy in Spain

Sean Reddy 
Picture: James Doolan

Sean Reddy got 2024 off to a bright start last week when he finished on top of the leaderboard in Spain.  The 17 year old was playing in the final event of the Toro Tour Andalucia series and he put together 3 great rounds to finish joint first and win the amateur category.

Reddy was playing in Villa Padierna Golf Club just outside Marbella and he led from start to finish in a field which featured several professionals and elite amateurs.  The Douglas golfer was in fine form, firing in 10 birdies over the Continue reading

2023 in Review

Sara Byrne pictured back at Douglas Golf Club with the Irish Women’s Close Trophy.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

2023 was another great year for golf in Cork.  It didn’t hit some of the highs of previous years but there was a lot of success.  There was just one national title added to the honour roll in 2023, that was when Sara Byrne won the AIG Irish Women’s Close in Connemara in June.

It was a second win for Sara, particularly impressive when you consider she’s only 21.  She previously won in 2017 in Enniscrone, three years before she headed off to University of Miami.  The win this year in Continue reading

IGWA Awards for O’Sullivan and Byrne

Denis O’Sullivan
Pic: Fran Caffrey

There were two Cork winners at the Irish Golf Writers awards at The K Club last week as Sara Byrne and Denis O’Sullivan were both recognised.  Byrne received the Women’s Amateur of the Year award, her second time to win it, and O’Sullivan was recognised for his distinguished services to golf.  Byrne recorded several notable wins and performances in 2023 while O’Sullivan’s career stretches over four decades.

Sara Byrne captured the Women’s Amateur award for the second time.  The 22-year-old from Douglas Golf Club won her second AIG Irish Women’s Continue reading

Byrne continues form, Walsh second at Intervarsities

Sara Byrne

Sara Byrne continued her current run of form with a solid, performance at the World Amateur Team Championships in Abu Dhabi last week.  Byrne started with a blistering 68 on the opening day, taking full advantage of an early tee time and cooler playing conditions.  Six birdies in that opening round showed that the course was set up for low scores and at the end of the opening day Byrne led the field of 108 golfers.  A later tee time on the second day meant Sara was playing in the hottest part of the day, and a Continue reading