Latest news with #Portmarnock
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Doyle and Fahey keep up bid for Boys title at Baltray
John Doyle and Adam Fahey maintained hopes of a home win in the Boys' Amateur Championship at County Louth on the opening day of matchplay. Doyle, a member of Fota Island, needed 20 holes to see of Japan's Kinjaro Kato. No Irish player has won the Boys' title since 1986. Doyle, 17, has already won the Munster Strokeplay and Irish Boys this season, and made his senior international debut for Ireland at the European Team Championships in Killarney and the Home Internationals. Doyle will now take on Filip Grave of Sweden in the second round. Grave enjoyed a 4&3 victory over England's Samuel Marshall in his first-round match. Fahey, a former junior club member at Baltray, eased to a 6&5 victory over Scotland's Finlay Galloway. Fahey, now a member of Portmarnock, was one down after two holes despite starting the first round match with a par at the opening hole and a birdie at the second. However, recent Scottish Boy's Amateur Championship winner Galloway eagled the second to draw first blood. That's when Fahey shifted into a higher gear. 'I birdied the next hole and then was three-under-par after six and two up, which gave me momentum,' Fahey said. 'I was bogey free today and that's always good in match play. I was four under out there, and Finlay had a few bogeys which helped. 'I had to play well because he's a great player. I played with him in Europeans (European Boys' Team Championship) and I know what he's capable of, especially in match play because I knew he just won the Scottish Boys'. 'I just said to myself keep it simple and play solid golf and I did that very well today. It was just fairways and greens. If I can stick to my game plan of keeping it in play and making no bogeys then I should have a chance of going far.' Fahey now faces Mikulas Vojtesek in round two. The Czech Republic player is 459th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, 2,656 places above Fahey. Kris Kim's dream of winning a second championship is on course after he eased to a 5&3 victory over Sweden's Melker Bohlin to book his place in the second round. Joint leading qualifier Callixte Alzas of France is also through to the next round following a two-hole victory over England's Harry Cox. Welsh dreams of a first title since Rhys Davies won the 2003 title reside with Deon Regan, who beat Clandeboye's member Harry O'Hara 3&2. In the Girls Amateur at Conwy, Wales, Royal Portrush's Hannah Lee-McNamara swept aside France's Manon Petitcolas. 'Five birdies and no bogeys so I'm very happy,' said the reigning Irish Girls' Stroke Play champion of her 6&4 triumph. Lee-McNamara, the only Irish player left in the draw, didn't enjoy the most comfortable of qualifying campaigns but with the strokeplay shackles off, she is now playing with attacking abandon. 'I qualified with a shot to spare, but I had a four-footer on the 18th which I was shaking over as I thought I needed to hole it to get in,' reflected Lee-McNamara, who was runner-up in the R&A's Girls' U16 Amateur Championship earlier this season. 'Once you qualify it frees you up. I love playing match play golf as I can be so aggressive.'
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Birdies galore in Boys' Amateur qualifying at County Louth
John Doyle and Adam Fahey carry Irish hopes into the knockout rounds of the Boys Amateur in glorious conditions at Co Louth. They are seeking to win the premier under-18 title for Ireland for the first time since Grange member Leslie Walker won at Seaton Carew in 1986. Portmarnock member Fahey couldn't match the fireworks of his opening 66, but he qualified with ease courtesy of a one-under-par 71 thanks to two birdies in his last four holes, the 15th and 18th, after dropping a shot at the 12th hole. He finished on seven-under. 'My round was a bit more boring today, but I'm happy enough because I'm into the match play rounds,' Fahey said. 'It's nice to do well in the stroke play but it's all about getting through to match play. That's all that matters. There are so many good players here that anyone who finishes in the top-64 can win.' Doyle will take also that attitude into the match play stages. The Fota Island player will be looking to add the Boys' title to the six-shot victory he notched up in lifting the Irish Boys' Amateur Open Championship trophy in April. He posted five-under. Kris Kim from England and France's Callixte Alzas topped strokeplay qualifying at Baltray. County Louth Golf Club might never again see two better consecutive days than those which have welcomed competitors. Hardly a breath of wind, warm temperatures and perfect links conditions have greeted the elite field. Many of the 144 players from 29 countries around the globe have taken full advantage of the almost Caribbean-like weather. No wonder the 36-hole qualifying rounds have set new records since qualifying was introduced in 2013. Every one of the 64 qualifiers was under par, a first for the Boys'. The cut of one-under-par was three shots better than the two-over-par mark set at Nairn in 2017. New record Kim and Alzas set a new record for leading qualifying score by finishing on 11-under-par 133, breaking the previous low of eight-under-par 136 at Nairn and equalled at Royal Cinque Ports in 2021. Kim remains on course for a second title after winning the 2023 Championship at Ganton. Alzas matched Kim's scores both days, the pair carding second round six-under-par 66s to go with opening 65s. Kris Kim is also at 11-under after the stroke play rounds. Playing together over the two rounds, they made 28 birdies and two eagles between them. No surprise Germany's Luca Jerome Herb uttered the words 'I think one of you will win this week,' when he exited the scoring area after missing the cut. The highlight of Kim's round was an eagle at the par-5 second hole when he hit a 7-iron from 190 yards to 15 feet and rolled in the putt. The 17-year-old tried to play down the idea of any advantage he might have as a past champion. Kim confidence 'I think I bring a little bit of confidence as a past winner, but then again anyone can beat you in match play if they have a good day,' he said. 'So I've just got to keep playing well and try not to make as many bogeys (six and one double bogey) as I've made the last two days.' Alzas also made an eagle, a three at the par-5, 6th hole when he hit a 6-iron to three feet. 'It was great playing with Kris over the last two days; we played some amazing golf,' Alzas said. 'I think we urged each other on.' The French player is in excellent form this summer. He reached the quarter-finals of The Amateur Championship at Royal St George's and lifted the Carris Trophy as English Boys' Open Amateur Stroke Play champion at Luffenham Heath last month. 'I'm feeling good about my game obviously,' he added. 'I'm looking forward to playing match play on this wonderful golf course. If I can just do what I've been doing then I'll have a chance but match play is always tough. I had a nice run at The Amateur and hopefully I can have one here too.' He is hoping to become the first French winner since 2019 Champion Tom Gueant. Weather forecasts for the next four days predict even warmer temperatures and little wind. Par golf is usually good in head-to-head golf, but birdies, plenty of them, will be required to become the 98th winner of this prestigious championship.
BBC News
20-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Lowry would love Open to return to Portrush 'next year'
Shane Lowry says he would like the Open to return to Royal Portrush "next year" after an "incredible" week of Lowry won the Open when it was last played in Northern Ireland in 2019 but could not replicate that success in this year's said he would like to see the tournament return to Portrush and feels that Portmarnock would be "amazing" if the Open was to be played in the Republic of Ireland for the first time."The feedback from the players involved has been about how much they have loved this tournament and venue," he said on Portrush."As regards to Portmarnock, I've heard it might go there and it would be amazing as it's only 30 minutes from my house. "I think it's one of the best golf courses in the world and it's good enough to host the Open. Hopefully it will soon."It had been a frustrating week on the course for Lowry, who dropped out of contention and had to battle to make the cut after he was handed a two-stroke penalty for moving his ball on a practice swing. That led the 38-year-old to say he wasn't a "cheat", and his then struggled further on Saturday with illness. However, a closing 66 meant he left Royal Portrush with a smile on his face and he will turn his attention to the FedEx Cup play-offs and the Ryder Cup in New York in September. "The crowds were amazing. They got behind me the whole day and it was probably one of the most enjoyable rounds of golf I've had in a while."I'll drive down the road a little bit happier than I would have been. "It's still a week where I put a lot into it but didn't get a lot out of it. Onwards and upwards I suppose."
Irish Examiner
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
'Clearer picture' on Portmarnock's chances of hosting The Open expected later this year
R&A chief executive Mark Darbon has said that the body is 'knee deep' in a feasibility study on Portmarnock's bid to host an Open Championship with a "clearer picture" expected towards the end of the year. Darbon declared himself 'optimistic' on the Dublin club's chances of making history by becoming the first ever host outside of the UK when asked about the matter at a media day at Royal Portrush back in April. The Republic of Ireland has never hosted a tournament that was first contested back in 1860, but a concerted campaign to change that in Portmarnock in Co. Dublin has been building up steam in recent years. The Irish government has backed the venture and is seemingly willing to invest financially to make it happen. Darbon's predecessor, Martin Slumbers, had spoken positively of the possibility before leaving his post last year. Darbon, who is overseeing his first Open since taking charge, also commented that: 'We look forward to returning here for many years to come,' in his address to the media on site at Royal Portrush. The Antrim venue bridged a 68-year gap when hosting in 2019 and now seems to be cemented in to the roster for the foreseeable. More to follow...
France 24
14-07-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Lowry revitalised by break ahead of British Open
The 38-year-old Irishman opted not to take part in the Scottish Open last week and instead took the opportunity to casually play some of the best courses on offer in his country. Lowry played at Portmarnock, The Island, Baltray, Waterville, Old Head and Adare Manor, a revitalising experience ahead of this week's pressure-packed British Open. "It's been an amazing couple of weeks. I haven't been home to Ireland since Christmas, so it's nice to be back home and I feel a bit rejuvenated and ready to go again," he told reporters. "I played too much golf - nine of 11 weeks - leading into the US Open and that got the better of me. That's my own fault. I've had a couple of weeks to take a step back and I do feel ready. "I played well the last two days so that's not good. Sometimes when everything is going really well, I get complacent then I'm three-over through five and have a panic. "When things are not going well, I'm at my best. I just need to play badly for a few days and everything will be alright!" A huge mural commemorating Lowry's 2019 victory at Royal Portrush was unveiled a year ago on the side of a house just half a mile from the course. The modest Lowry, still searching for his second major title, joked he was pleased the house he is staying in this week was in the opposite direction so he won't have to drive past it every day. "When I won here in 2019 it was very special and it was an amazing day for the country and everyone around me, but it didn't change me as a person," he said. "When the mural was put on the wall I didn't think I was immortalised. I'm just myself, I'm just okay at golf and I've gotten to achieve what I did in the sport. © 2025 AFP
