University of Louisville

O’Callaghan recalls McIlroy duel

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Pictured (from L to R) Seamus Power, Shane Lowry, Simon Ward, Rory McIlroy, Aaron O’Callaghan and Gareth Shaw at the European Youths.

Tiger Woods had just become the third golfer in history to go back-to-back in the Masters, when over 6,000 kilometres away a young golfer from Holywood in County Down was about to begin his journey to the top.

Harry Diamond won the Ulster Boys’ title that year, before Rory McIlroy went back-to-back. And then in 2004, the future World No 1 also claimed the Irish Boys’ Amateur Close Championship.

It could have been different that week, at least, where McIlroy was forced to a play-off by Aaron O’Callaghan. Fast forward 24 years and McIlroy was looking to emulate Woods, while O’Callaghan watched on with his East Tennessee State University golfers. Continue reading →

Busy 2021 for Murphy

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John Murphy was back in college golf action last week for the first time in ten months, but the Kinsale golfer has kept himself busy.  After working hard in Cork for the summer he travelled back to America last August, and he was determined to make to most of his extension as a student in University Louisville.  Murphy was a Senior last year but the cancellation of the second half of the season gave him another opportunity to compete in the 2021 NCAA college golf schedule.  It was a big decision to return in August, when many European based golfers chose to stay at home, but it paid off for Murphy, providing him with the weather and the facilities to improve his game.  “I felt as though the semester was really productive.  As always, I am just trying to learn and grow as much as possible as a player, and being in this environment certainly allowed me to do that.  I was able to compete with the world’s best Continue reading →

John Murphy wins prestigious GCAA Byron Nelson Award

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John Murphy

John Murphy has won a major US college golf award, he was confirmed as the winner of the prestigious Byron Nelson Award.  Three weeks ago Murphy was shortlisted as one of the three finalists and late on Thursday evening he was announced as the winner.  The Byron Nelson Award is awarded based on the winners golfing and academic performance as well as their character.  Although his senior year was cut short, the win was a great boost for the Kinsale man.

“I am still overawed to have been honoured with this award and to have my name mentioned in the same sentence as Byron Nelson,” said Murphy.  “To be recognised for what I do both on and off the golf course is incredible and I am so grateful that the committee put their faith in me.  I feel incredibly lucky Continue reading →

Swift End to Murphy’s College Season

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John Murphy

11 days and it was all over.  On the 13th March the NCAA announced the cancellation of the college golf season, and by the 24th John Murphy was on a plane heading home.  Instead of heading to Sawgrass CC in Florida for the second last regular season tournament, John Murphy was headed home.  Although he had planned to sit things out in Louisville, the fear of missing a summer of golf in Ireland was part of the decision to come home, and after three years in the University of Louisville, college life looked like it was over for the Kinsale man.  The plans to compete in the NCAA Regionals and the NCAA Championships were gone, the exams and graduation plans were changed, and an important trip to Louisville for his parents Carmel and Owen were all cancelled.    While the wider public health issues are far more important, it was a crushing blow for Murphy who was having a really strong season.  Murphy had two individual wins on the Division One circuit and three team wins.  It was a great season for Murphy in many respects.  He comfortably maintained his ranking in the WAGR top 150 and he came back to Cork with his head high, happy that he had seen more improvements in his game in his final year.

“My senior year certainly filled me with confidence” explained Murphy.  “It was great to be recognized on a national stage and I had a lot of fun on the golf course and continued to learn and grow as a player.  I had certainly put in some good work the last few years and put myself in a Continue reading →

Top 5 for Murphy in Alabama

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John Murphy

Kinsale’s John Murphy got his final US College semester off to a good start with a top five finish in his first tournament.  Murphy was competing in Alabama in the Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate and shot impressive rounds of 69, 70, 69 in his way to an eight under par finish for the event.  Murphy’s Cardinals finished in third place in the team competition, again continuing their good form from the fall series.  Murphy now has five more events in the next two months before his Cardinals team head for the play-offs.  Murphy was ranked inside top 100 in the US college rankings and this was his fourth top ten Continue reading →

Murphy set for new season

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South of Ireland 2019

John Murphy, left, enjoying himself with Shane O’Connell and Cathal Butler at the South of Ireland in July.

Kinsale’s John Murphy was back Cork for a few weeks in December, and the Kentucky based golfer took a well deserved break after a busy few months on the course.  After 30 plus tournaments in 2019 John took advantage of the winter break to recharge with family and friends in Kinsale.  Having used the 2018 Christmas break to practice in Australia, John took a different angle this year with an extended break at home.

“The last few weeks were very different to my normal schedule,” said Murphy.  “Apart from having to study for my finals a lot, I had a lot of time to spend with friends and family which I don’t normally get to do, so I really enjoyed it.  I took a couple weeks away from golf just to recharge.  “Towards the Continue reading →

Mairead helps Cardinals to title

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Louisville Womens Golf Cardinal Cup Oct 2019Kanturk’s Mairead Martin took second place in the Cardinal Cup as University of Louisville Womens Golf earned their first win of the season.  Playing as hosts on their home course, Louisville beat the field by eight strokes to come home in style.  Mairead was the best placed Louisville golfer, with rounds of 68, 73, 69 to finish on -6.

Now playing in her second year in Louisville, this was her best finish in a college tournament.  “It was a really great weekend,” Martin said. “I felt really comfortable out here and I enjoyed it a lot.  I felt really proud of my performance, and especially the team’s performance this weekend as well.”  She finished in second place, two shots off the lead on 210.  She carded a final-round 3-under-par 69, which included four birdies, as all of them came on the back nine.  Martin led the tournament in par-3 scoring, finishing with a 2.83 average and 2-under-par.  She was also second in par-4 scoring with a 3.87 average.

“It was an unbelievable day,” head coach Whitney Young said. “The team really came together. Everyone contributed this week, and today especially. They just kept fighting and making birdies. To be able to have my first team victory as Continue reading →

Winning 63 for Murphy in Cincinnati

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Murphy Bearcat_2

John Murphy

John Murphy claimed his first win on US soil today, winning the Bearcat Invitational in Coldstream Country Club. His 54 hole total of -17 (196) was a result of three rounds in the 60’s.  Murphy finished his summer with a win in the Mullingar Scratch Cup, and he continued his good form with an impressive start to the college season.  Yesterday he shot rounds of 67 and 66 to lead the tournament on nine under, and there was no let up today.  A birdie on the second was followed by an eagle three on the fourth hole, and another birdie on the sixth saw him turn on four under.  Another eagle followed on the tenth and he went par, birdie, bogey, birdie to get to -7 on the 14th green.  A final birdie on the 18th saw him sign for a 63 on the par 71, 7,111 yard course.  It was Murphy’s lowest competition score, beating the several impressive scores he posted on his home course in Kinsale over the summer.  The 17 under total contained 17 birdies and two eagles, and beat his previous 54 hole score of -15 from Hawaii when he finished in second place.

Murphy Bearcat

Murphy’s Louisville Cardinals also won the team event, with the first second and eighth places, Louisville finished on -37, an amazing 26 shots ahead of second placed Arkansas.  The Cardinals have a break next week before they are back in action in Tennessee in the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate.

Top ten for Murphy in US Season Opener

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South of Ireland 2019

John Murphy

John Murphy opened his 2019/20 college season with a flourish last weekend, scooping a top ten finish in the opening tournament of the year.  Murphy shot rounds of 71, 66, 76 in the Roy Myers Invitational which took place at Duke University.  Four birdies and three bogies made up Murphy’s opening round on Saturday morning, and later that day he returned a blistering 66 which tied the lowest score of the tournament.  The 66 got off to a steady start, the Louisville golfer was level par after four with two birdies and two bogies.  A birdie four on the ninth saw him turn on one under.  He had a hot hand on the back nine though, he was five under for the five holes from the 11th to the 15th.  That included three birdies and an eagle as he finished the back nine with three pars to sign for a six under score.

That 66 in the second round saw Murphy lead the event going Continue reading →

Murphy ready for Summer Challenge

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John Murphy Links Trophy 2018It’s almost twelve months on from where it all kicked off.  The St Andrew’s Links Trophy 2018 was when John Murphy had his first major win, and the Kinsale man has kicked on with a great season with University of Louisville in NCAA Division One college.  Today he kicks on with his first appearance at the Brabazon Trophy, the English Strokeplay championship.  From there it’s onto St Andrew’s to defend his Links trophy, and from there it will be a mixture of Irish, English and European events as the seasons builds towards August.  Murphy has the added benefit of being named in the extended Walker Cup panel, and although he missed out on a few early season events in England, he’s now on the right side of the Atlantic for the selectors to see what he can do.  Twelve months ago it’s was a sudden death play-off that decided the winner of the St Andrews Links.  Given Murphy’s experience in matchplay situations going back to when he was under 15 it was no Continue reading →