Latest news with #FlogasIrishBoys'AmateurOpenChampionship
Irish Examiner
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Top amateur golfers ready to embrace European stage
Ireland's top amateur golfers are ready to make their mark on the European stage as four teams gear up for the European Men's, Women's, Boys', and Girls' Team Championships this week. From Chantilly to Slaley Hall, Czechia to Killarney, 24 of Ireland's elite amateurs are primed for an exciting week and with experienced names and rising stars in each squad, hopes are high for strong performances across the continent. The Men's Team will look to turn home advantage into medal winning contention as the event is set to tee up at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club, 50 years since it was last held at the historic venue in 1975. 'It's incredibly special because of the fact that it was there 50 years ago,' said team captain Damien Coyne. 'Colin (Finlay), the manager and all the staff down there, have been very good the couple of times we have been down so we're looking forward to being on home turf and giving it a go down there.' John Doyle (Fota Island), Stuart Grehan (Co Louth), Thomas Higgins (Roscommon), Matthew McClean (Malone), Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk), and Gavin Tiernan (Co Louth) form a strong six-man lineup led by Coyne, manager Mark O'Sullivan and coach Michael Collins. Coyne, who stepped into the captaincy role last year is relishing the opportunity and with the European field stacked with quality, Ireland's strategy is clear. 'The game plan is just to go and get after it,' said Coyne. 'We have to be positive and aggressive. The course lends itself to some positive play. There are plenty of opportunities out there.' The team includes players in outstanding form. Doyle earned his call-up with wins at the Flogas Irish Boys' Amateur Open Championship, Munster Men's Amateur Open Championship along with a runner-up finish at the St Andrews Links trophy. Others are coming in off the back of significant performances too with Higgins also impressing at St Andrews, while Tiernan's run to the final of the Amateur Championship solidified his place on the team. With seasoned players like Grehan, McClean, and Rafferty, rounding out the group, Coyne says they have a nicely balanced squad. In France, the Irish Women's Team will seek to turn form and familiarity into winning potential. Captain Gillian O'Leary, who has known many of the players since their early teens, is encouraged by the team dynamic and recent performances. 'They were all buzzing after playing in the Women's Irish Open last week,' said O'Leary. 'That experience gave them a real confidence boost.' All six players competed at Carton House with Emma Fleming (Elm Park) finishing as the top Irish amateur. Beth Coulter (Kirkistown Castle) and Áine Donegan (Lahinch) too bring form into the event as they come to Chantilly fresh from victory with the Vagliano Trophy team. 'Beth and Áine have been doing great things but everybody else is very experienced too,' said O'Leary. 'They've travelled the world, most of them are in college in the States. Rebekah and Marina are new to the women's team, but they've played on Irish teams before as well. They all know how to manage themselves.' Having taken in a practice round on Sunday, O'Leary and her team of Clodagh Walsh (Manager) and coach Donal Scott know that patience and precision will be key when play gets underway Tuesday morning if a gold medal is to return home for the first time since 1983. The Boys' Team, captained by John Carroll, heads to the Czechia full of enthusiasm and belief and with six rookies, the squad represents a wave of promising young talent. Form is trending in the right direction too with William O'Riordan (Greystones) entering the week having claimed victory at the Connacht Boys', while John William Burke (Ballyhaunis), Caelan Coleman (Galway Bay), Adam Fahey (Portmarnock), Louis Goodman (Co Louth), and Isaac Oliver (Glasson) have all posted strong results this year. Brenda Craig leads the Girls' Team to Slaley Hall in England, where a close-knit group aims to convert recent successes into European glory. 'We had Roisin (Scanlon) win the Helen Holm, Zoe (McLean-Tattan) winning the Irish girls and Olivia (Costello) playing across Europe, playing in the final of the Spanish Amateur Ladies. We had Hannah (Lee-McNamara) win the Connacht Girls' Championship,' said Craig. 'Kate (Dillon) has been playing and practicing while doing exams, as has Kayleigh (Mulholland) and they all played in the Women's Amateur Open in Headfort. They all performed very well. Myself, Chris (Jelly) and Mary (Doyle) are really happy with the way they're playing coming into this week so hopefully they deliver.' With deep bonds formed over years of competing together, team chemistry will be a major asset. 'These girls have been playing together since they were 11 or 12,' said Craig.
Irish Examiner
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Tralee golfer Lucy Grattan claims All-Ireland Schools Senior Girls title
Coláiste Éamonn Rís Wexford golfer Luke Furlong won the All-Ireland Schools Senior Boys title after 38 stableford points at Milltown. Just two days after his 16th birthday the Wexford native bounced back from a T30 finish in the Flogas Irish Boys' Amateur Open Championship to seal this crown. 'I played well, hit it great tee to green and really capitalised on the chances I gave myself. Didn't put myself in too much trouble,' said Furlong who hopes to qualify for the East of Ireland on the June Bank Holiday weekend. 'I just want to take it as it comes now and enjoy the year.' Mercy Mounthawk golfer Lucy Grattan claimed the Senior Girls title after a brilliant gross score of 36 stableford points. The 17-year-old, who will turn her attentions to the Flogas Irish Girls' Amateur Open Championship in Corrstown next month, finished four points in front of the chasing pack and her two playing partners. Ella Cantwell (Killina Presentation Rahan) had 32 points while Ella Proctor (Dalriada Ballymoney) accumulated 31 points and that resulted in a third-place finish on a countback. 'It felt really good, I was hitting the ball really well – it felt easy,' said Grattan. 'We have a couple of scratch cups coming up now, I just want to play some good golf for the rest of the season.' Presentation College Athenry golfer Charlie Griffin was crowned champion in the Junior Boys section. He shot 44 stableford points, four clear of Sean Cogan (St Gerald's Castlebar), and Paddy Hope (St Gerald's Castlebar) who was two shots further in arrears. Tullamore College golfer Kelly Kilmurray picked up the Junior Girls award after she shot 46 stableford points in the Final. Kilmurray finished four shots ahead of Georgia Harrington (Presentation School Wexford) with Ellen Barry (Presentation Milltown) in third on 40 points.
Irish Examiner
24-04-2025
- Climate
- Irish Examiner
John Doyle take five shot lead into final round of Irish Boy's Amateur Open Championship
John Doyle will carry a sizeable five-shot lead into the final round of the Flogas Irish Boys' Amateur Open Championship at Cork Golf Club, after the Fota Island golfer produced impressive back-to-back under-par rounds in vastly contrasting conditions. 90 of the best up and coming golfers, including eight international players from countries such as France, Norway, Germany, and the USA, teed it up on the south coast this week all vying for the coveted trophy. It was the former Irish Boys' Close Champion, Doyle that made a near faultless start to his campaign on Wednesday. A birdie at the second, quickly followed by a chip in eagle at the third setting him on his way. The momentum kept rolling going on the back nine as another eagle rolled in at the 11th, before Doyle closed out with birdies on 15, 16 and 18 to card a superb seven-under-par 65. 'The first round was good, first round hit it really well so happy enough with that', said Doyle. ''Eagled the third and the eleventh and they were good, chipping in on three and 11 was pretty gettable, but it's still a good eagle.' Doyle though would not have the overnight lead all to himself however, as John William Burke (Ballyhaunis) would also sign for a seven under par round of 65 to share the number one spot heading into round two. While Wednesday's conditions were relatively benign, Thursday presented a sterner challenge with persistent rain and patches of mist hitting the Little Island course, and while some struggled to make headway as the weather worsened, Doyle continued to shine bright, picking up where he left off the day before. Birdies on the third, sixth and sixteenth helped the 17-year-old on his way to a two under par round of 70 to take a five-shot buffer into the final round. 'It was tough, just raining the whole time, got a bit windy and foggy as well but I'm happy enough how I played to be fair especially the back nine. I was pretty consistent. I had one bogey on four and it was good apart from that so happy enough', said Doyle. 'You just have to be really concentrated; you can't have a lapse at all. I missed one or two putts on the back nine but apart from that it was pretty solid so happy enough.' Joining Doyle in the final group tomorrow will be William O'Riordan (Greystones), who followed up an opening round 69 with a 71, and John William Burke, both sitting at four-under-par and tied for second. The final round is set to get underway at 8.00am with the leading group teeing off at 1.05pm.
Irish Examiner
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Goodman gears up for Cork glory
Louis Goodman believes preparation and confidence are key as the County Louth golfer gets set to make the trip to Cork Golf Club as one of the contenders hoping to get his hands on the coveted Flogas Irish Boys' Amateur Open Championship trophy. Ninety of the best up and coming golfers, including eight international players from countries such as France, Norway, Germany, and the USA, are set to tee it up at the Little Island course this week. It has been a busy start to the season for Goodman, having already competed at the Scottish Boys' and the French International Boys' U18 Championship in recent weeks. Now as the 18-year-old returns to more familiar surroundings, the experience gained from taking on some of the best talent from across the globe could prove vital. 'Since last year, I've just been doing bigger and bigger tournaments, gradually building it up, and it's definitely been a nice experience and a new experience, because it's all the higher level, you get to see much stronger fields, better players,' said Goodman. 'Because all the tournaments are in such quick succession at the moment, I know where my strengths and my weaknesses are in my game, just from reviewing the previous tournaments so I know what areas to focus on more, so my game is more complete.' Having been a part of the 2024 Irish Boys' Home Internationals team last August, Goodman will have plenty of his teammates to contend with this week including John Doyle (Fota Island), Finlay Eager (Royal Belfast) and Rory Gallagher (Galway Bay). Now in his Leaving Certificate year at Clongowes Wood College, Goodman, like many other elite amateurs his age, strives to strike a balance between his studies and his golfing ambitions with his parents Jane and Laurence continuing to be two of his biggest supporters on his journey. 'They've been unbelievable, truly', said Goodman. 'Particularly my mum, she's driving me everywhere and at the same time letting me do all this golf at the moment. She still pushes me to get my work done and all that sort of stuff, but I suppose we both make the plan, make sure we're organized, just so we can get both done as efficiently as possible.' As his focus turns to the Flogas Irish Boys' Amateur Open Championship, Goodman knows that the confidence gained, and preparation completed from his recent events will be important components when looking towards success this week. 'Knowing I'm able to go out there, do what I need to do, do what I know I have to do, just adds to the confidence going into each event that I could be in', said Goodman. 'If you don't put in the prep, you don't expect the results.'
