university of Miami

Byrne set for busy summer

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

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 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 →

Strong Season finish for Sara Byrne

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

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 →