South of Ireland Championship

Howard earns Ireland call up following South performance

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

David Howard had another good week on Golf Ireland’s Bridgestone Tour.  He reached the final 16 of the South of Ireland on Saturday, and in doing he looks to have earned selection on the Irish team for the upcoming Home Internationals.

Howard, who won his first major event in Baltray last month at the East of Ireland, backed up his impressive stroke play performance with six positive rounds in Lahinch.  The 26 year old opened with a lack lustre 75, the three over par round put him outside the top 80 with a second 18 holes to come.  The round could have been worse – after 10 holes Howard was five over but two late birdies gave him something to fight for.

Howard returned on Thursday afternoon and things didn’t improve when he was one over after nine.  The back nine again proved critical as Continue reading →

Byrne gets boost for Curtis Cup

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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 →

O’Keeffe goes close again at the South

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Peter O’Keeffe tees off the 17th in Lahinch

Peter O’Keeffe had another narrow loss at the South of Ireland, finishing as runner-up after five days of golf in Lahinch.  O’Keeffe agonisingly lost out on the 18th green, just one step away from claiming his first provincial championship.  The three time Irish champion was a semi-finalist in 2021, a finalist in 2022 and reached the final again last Sunday.  Despite leading for most of the final on Sunday, he was drawn back to level by Colm Campbell on the 17th, with the Warrenpoint man winning on the final hole after five today days of championship golf.

It was another impressive Continue reading →

Ten Cork golfers advance at the South

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Joe O’Neill (Berehaven) in action at the 2023 South of Ireland, sponsored by Pierse Motor Group. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Cork golfers had some impressive performances at the South of Ireland last week with ten golfers making the cut.  Dean O’Riordan, Joe O’Neill and Robert Walsh all made it through on the cut mark of +6 while Mel Deasy was one better on +5.

Peter O’Keeffe was just one off the leading qualifier on -5 and Morgan Cain was the only other Cork player under par on -2.  Former South Champion Sean Desmond went safely through on +1 with James Walsh continuing his good run of form to finish in the top 20.  Munster Strokeplay winner Jason Law also made Continue reading →

O’Keeffe runner-up at South of Ireland

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Peter O’Keeffe (Douglas) in action in the quarter-finals at the South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch Golf Club. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Peter O’Keeffe came agonisingly close to capturing the South of Ireland Championship last week.  O’Keeffe is a major fan of Lahinch and went to the Pierse Motors sponsored South after finding some form at the British Amateur a few weeks ago.  The Douglas golfer opened the Strokeplay qualifier with a two under par 70 to sit just inside the top ten.  A second round 72 ensured that he finished in the top 25, comfortably qualifying for the matchplay stage.  On Friday he had a tough assignment but dispatched two Irish Internationals.  In the first round he beat Marc Boucher by two holes and on Friday afternoon he wrapped up his match against Alex Maguire with a 3 & 2 win on the 16th green.  Saturday’s matches would Continue reading →