Sara Byrne

Byrne claims first NCAA Win

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Sara Byrne has had a good start to her final year in college in Miami. Pic: Niall O’Shea

While there was little in the way of golf in Cork last weekend, there were a few Cork golfers making waves.  Sara Byrne recorded his first NCAA win last week when she came out on top in the Pat Bradley Invitational in Florida.  Byrne opened with a level par 72, but found herself eight shots off the lead after teammate Barbora Bujakova shot a 64.  It didn’t even look like Byrne might match par after a tough start.  She found herself three over par after just five holes thanks to three bogies in a row from the third hole.  Four birdies would follow to get Byrne into the red but a bogey on the second last hole saw her sign for level par.

Day two saw a very different start from Byrne, she dropped six bridies in her opening nine holes to race up the leaderboard.  A level par Continue reading →

Impressive US Debut for Cain

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Mark Healy pictured with Morgan Cain after their win.

Cork duo Morgan Cain and Mark Healy were part of a win in the US last week when their college team Tusculum Pioneers won the King University Invitational.  Healy is in his first year as Director of Golf Operations while Cain joined the Pioneers as a student freshman in August.

Morgan Cain was playing in his first NCAA event and he led the competition after day one thanks to a four under par round.  Cain posted five birdies on the opening round including three on his outward nine for a 32.  He moved his score to -4 with a birdie on the 13th before surrendering a bogey on the 16th. He bounced back with a birdie on 17 and would end the day with a par on the final hole for his opening 66.  He got off to a rocky start in the second round as he went out with a 38, but shot three-under par 32 for his final nine holes of Continue reading →

Byrne ready for KPMG Women’s Irish Open

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Sara Byrne 

Sara Byrne is bringing her summer in Ireland to a close in style this week, she’s playing in the KPMG Women’s Irish Open in Dromoland. Her invitation to play came as a result of her win in the Irish Women’s Close back in June, and she will tee it up in today’s first round alongside some of Europe’s leading professionals.
Dromoland has been working hard all summer for the LET event and the course is in great condition. With an enhanced spectator village, bigger grandstands and some fine weather forecast, it should be a great weekend at the Clare resort. A large number of Cork supporters are expected to travel Continue reading →

More good golf from Byrne at LET Access

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

Sara Byrne had another good performance at the LET Access tour in Sweden last week.  Fresh of the back of her 6th place finish at the Vasteras Open Byrne travelled to Upsala for the Capio Ogon Trophy.  The Douglas golfer started brightly with two level par rounds of 72 to lie inside the top ten.  A 76 on the closing day say Byrne fall to 12th place, but she picked up more important ranking points.  Between the two events Sara now has secured tour card status for the LET Access series for 2024 which provides her with playing rights regardless Continue reading →

Mairead Martin called into Irish Action

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Mairead Martin has been given her chance in Finland. Photo: Thos Caffrey / Golffile.

Cork will have two Irish internationals in action in Finland this week.  Mairead Martin has been called into the Irish team  for the European Ladies’ Team Championship following Áine Donegan’s US Open heroics.

Donegan was due to join Sara Byrne, Beth Coulter, Anna Foster, Kate Lanigan and Jessica Ross at Tawast Golf & Country Club in Finland next week but will instead continue her push for silverware after she made the cut at Pebble Beach.

Kanturk’s Martin was a recent nine-shot winner of the Ballybunion Ladies’ Scratch Cup, and the University of Louisville graduate now has a huge chance to make her mark on the big stage.

“With Áine progressing so well at Pebble Beach it’s a wonderful opportunity for Mairead to showcase her skills at the European Championships in Helsinki,” said Golf Ireland High Performance Director Neil Manchip.

Top ten for Byrne on LET Access Debut

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Sara Byrne (Douglas) 
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Sara Byrne made an impressive debut on the LET Access Series last week, the recently crowned Irish Close champion finished in the top ten at the Vasteras Open in Sweden.  Byrne opened with a one under par 71 to be tied for fifth place, and two rounds of 72 saw her finish in 6th place and the second highest ranked amateur.

Byrne has travelled to Sweden to get some experience of pro tour golf, and she will be in action in Upsala again this week in the Capio Ogon Trophy.  Byrne earned over 100 Continue reading →

Strong Season finish for Sara Byrne

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Sara Byrne (Douglas) in action in the AIG Irish Womens Close in 2022.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Sara Byrne wrapped up her third year in the US with a solid performance at the NCAA National Championship.  Sara was one of nine individual golfers who qualified for the finals in Greyhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale Arizona.  She booked a place in the finals thanks to a second place finish in the Palm Beach Regional which should have been her final event of the college schedule.  Byrne was just the second Cork golfer to make it to the NCAA finals, John Murphy played with Louisville in 2019 and again in 2021 in his senior year.  It’s been another very positive season for the Douglas golfer, she recorded three top tens in the very competitive ACC conference and the third year led the Miami Hurricanes on a number of occasions.  She played in 37 competitive rounds this year and had an impressive stroke average of 72.9, an improvement of over Continue reading →

Cork’s Top Amateurs (Women)

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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 →

Top Class week for Douglas

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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

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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 →