Irish Golf Desk

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Quality field assembled for 117th South of Ireland

Brian Keogh

Big crowds traditionally follow the South of Ireland final at Lahinch

A quality field has been assembled for the 117th edition of the South of Ireland at Lahinch next week, whetting the appetite for next year's bumper season at the Clare venue when it also hosts the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and the Home Internationals.

While Tramore's Flogas Irish Amateur Open champion Robin Dawson, St Andrews Links Trophy winner John Murphy from Kinsale and Portmarnock’s Conor Purcell, a former South of Ireland champion, have been called up for the clashing St Andrews Trophy in Finland, a host of top players are heading for the stunning Co Clare links in search of "the South".

Internationals past and present such as Rowan Lester (Hermitage), Alex Gleeson (Castle), Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk), Peter O’Keeffe (Douglas), Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene), Barry Anderson (Royal Dublin), Sean Flanagan and Robbie Cannon (Balbriggan) will be joined by the likes of senior panellists Jonathan Yates (Naas), Mark Power (Kilkenny), Jamie Fletcher (Warrenpoint), Ronan Mullarney (Galway) and defending champion James Sugrue (Mallow).

There's also Tyrone Clarke (Royal Portrush), son of former South of Ireland and Open champion  Darren Clarke, and England's Alex Fitzpatrick, brother of Ryder Cup player Matt.

Ronan Mullarney

Mullarney looks like a man to watch with interest after he booked his place in next month’s NI Open when he came out on top in the Modest! Golf Northern Ireland Amateur Open at Galgorm Castle earlier this week.

The Galway man was in sensational form, carding rounds of 67 and 66 to win by three shots on nine-under-par from Forrest Little’s Jack McDonnell, who has also entered the South. 

Mullarney hit the front after his opening 67 and went on to shoot the best score of the afternoon too by going one better for his 66 to win comfortably.

“Keep it out of the water, the rough, the trees and hole a few putts,” the plus four handicapper said of his strategy.  

A Paddy Harrington scholar at Maynooth University, Mullarney was part of the International Palmer Cup side that lost to the United States at Evian Resort in France two weeks ago.

But while he is now looking forward to teeing it up with the professionals in the Challenge Tour’s NI Open at Galgorm Castle from August 16-19, he will also be seeking his first Irish championship in Lahinch having made the Palmer Cup team by winning The R&A Foundation Scholars Tournament in St Andrews in April.

“The invite to the NI Open was the main reason for playing here today," he said at Galgorm Castle last week. “I really wanted to play in a professional event this year, and I’m delighted to secure my place in the NI Open.

“I’ll play the South and the Close and some club golf, Senior Cup and Barton Shield between now and the NI Open. I actually have a college assignment to do as well. I’m doing a Masters in Strategy and Innovation. It’s going ok, the golf is going better than the studies.”

Clarke made his debut in the South last year, losing to former runner-up Joe Lyons in the first round.

But he showed in the recent North of Ireland Championship at Royal Portrush that he's a man to be reckoned with in matchplay, reaching the quarter-finals.

South of Ireland Amateur Open, Lahinch, 25-29 July

SPONSORED BY PIERSE MOTORS VOLKSWAGEN

Strokeplay Qualifying, July 25/26

  1. 07:00/11:20 Nathan McCann (Lurgan), Greg O’Mahony (Fota Island), Ryan O’Doherty (Enniscrone) 
  2. 07:10/11:30 Aaron Ryan (Thurles), Paul O’Hara (Kilkenny), Michal J Kennelly (Galway Bay) 
  3. 07:20/11:40 Ross McKeever (Castle), Ruairi O’Connor (Co Sligo), Eric Rumley (Kinsale) 
  4. 07:30/11:50 Mikey Burke (Galway), Jason Rackard (Enniscorthy), Kieran McCarthy (Kinsale) 
  5. 07:40/12:00 Cathal Butler (Kinsale), John Bolger (Courtown), Tony Cleary (Woodstock) 
  6. 07:50/12:10 Anthony McDaid (Palmerstown Hse), Jason O’Leary (Dromoland Castle), Martin O’Neill (Coollattin) 
  7. 08:00/12:30 Cian Geraghty (Laytown/B’stown), Thomas Neenan (Lahinch), Alan Lowry (Esker Hills) 
  8. 08:10/12:40 Justin Kehoe (Limerick), Keith Daniels (Loughrea), Adam Doran (Co Louth) 
  9. 08:20/12:50 Ryan Berkeley (Dun Laoghaire), Jack Blake (The Island), Daryl Callister (England) 
  10. 08:30/13:00 Michael O’Kelly (Limerick), Keegan Shreves (USA), Stephen Barker (Mourne) 
  11. 08:50/13:10 Owen O’Brien (Limerick), Gareth A Carr (Mullingar), David Brady (Co Sligo)
  12. 09:00/13:20 Eugene Smith (Laytown/B’stown), Harry Gillivan (Westport) Ross Dutton (Tandragee) 
  13. 09:10/13:30 John Hickey (Cork), Marc Norton (Belvoir Park), Conor Ryan (Dun Laoghaire) 
  14. 09:20/13:40 Ian O’Rourke (Royal Dublin), TJ Ford (Co Sligo), James Fox (Portmarnock) 
  15. 09:30/13:50 Colin Woodroofe (Dun Laoghaire), Mathew McClean (Malone), Pat Murray (Clontarf)
  16. 09:40/14:00 Peter McKeever (Castle), Niall Carroll (Galway Bay), Gary O’Flaherty (Cork) 
  17. 09:50/14:20 Marc McCormack (USA), Devin Morley (Oughterard), Thomas O’Connor (Athlone) 
  18. 10:00/14:30 Jack Pierse (Portmarnock), James Sugrue (Mallow), Gerard Dunne (Co Louth) 
  19. 10:10/14:40 Gary Ward (Kinsale), Darragh Coghlan (Portmarnock), Robert Brazill (Naas) 
  20. 10:20/14:50 Jack Ryan (Castletroy), Paul Murphy (Rosslare), Robbie Pierse (Grange) 
  21. 10:40/15:00 Ross Latimer (Knock), Andrew McCormack (Castletroy), Marcus Looby (Greystones) 
  22. 10:50/15:10 Hugh Foley (Royal Dublin), Marc McKinstry (Cairndhu), Ross Kenny (Arklow) 
  23. 11:00/15:20 Rory Williamson (Holywood), Jack Walsh (Castle), Robert Abernethy (Dun Laoghaire) 
  24. 11:10/15:30 Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little), Daniel Murphy (Portarlington), Hugh O’Hare (Fortwilliam) 
  25. 11:20/15:40 Dean McMahon (Castletroy), David Foy (Laytown & Bettystown)  Joe Lyons (Forrest Little),  
  26. 11:30/15:50 Marc Boucher (Carton House) Sean Desmond (Monkstown) Paraic Connolly (Killeen Castle) 
  27. 11:40/07:00 Stephen Watts (Cairndhu), Peter O’Keeffe (Douglas), Mickey McHugh (UAE) 
  28. 11:50/07:10 Nikolai Schaffrath (Germany), Reece Black (Hilton Templepatrick), Jack Doherty (Carton House) 
  29. 12:00/07:20 Robert Moran (Castle), Keith Murphy (Dun Laoghaire), Jack Madden (Royal Portrush) 
  30. 12:10/07:30 Bob Loftus (Lahinch), Tyrone Clarke (Royal Portrush), Stephen Walsh (Portmarnock) 
  31. 12:30/07:40 Rhys Clarke (Wexford), Colin Cunningham (Carton House) Niall Hearns (Mountrath)
  32. 12:40/07:50 Shane Hogan (Nenagh), Michael Horan (Birr), Harry Duggan (Kilkenny)
  33. 12:50/08:00 Eanna Griffin (Waterford), Jake Whelan (Newlands), Peter Kerr (Royal Portrush)
  34. 13:00/08:10 Paul Coughlan (Castleknock), Eddie McCormack (Galway Bay) Barry Anderson (Royal Dublin)
  35. 13:10/08:20 Alan Fahy (Dun Laoghaire), Eoghan Long (Monkstown), Graham Nugent (Kilkenny) 
  36. 13:20/08:30 Robert Cannon (Balbriggan), Gregory Royston (South Africa), Jamie Fletcher (Warrenpoint)
  37. 13:30/08:50 Sean Flanagan (Co Sligo), Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene), Gary Collins (Rosslare),  
  38. 13:40/09:00 Jonathan Yates (Naas), Ronan Mullarney (Galway), Mark Power (Kilkenny)
  39. 13:50/09:10 Rowan Lester (Hermitage), Dylan Brophy (Castleknock) Keith Egan (Carton House)
  40. 14:00/09:20 Alex Gleeson (Castle), Alex Fitzpatrick (England) Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk)
  41. 14:20/09:30 Edward Stack (Ballybunion), Jack Hearn (Tramore), Mark McKenna (Dun Laoghaire) 
  42. 14:30/09:40 John Greene (Portmarnock), Paul Flynn (Tramore), Evan Farrell (Ardee) 
  43. 14:40/09:50 Gavin Fitzmaurice (Balcarrick), Brian Gilligan (Woodstock), Darragh Crawford (Bundoran) 
  44. 14:50/10:00 Damien McCusker (Moyola Park), Gary McGrane (The Royal Dublin), Ian Bohane (Lee Valley) 
  45. 15:00/10:10 Stefan Greenberg (Tandragee), James Maginn (Mourne), Ross McCormack (Palmerstown House)
  46. 15:10/10:20 Sean Poucher (Limerick), Brian Shally (Dromoland Castle), Cillian Twomey (Fermoy)
  47. 15:20/10:40 Ciaran Vaughan (Limerick), Max Kalfjall (Sweden), Shaun Carter (Royal Dublin)
  48. 15:30/10:50 Liam Power (Galway), Richard Knightly (Royal Dublin), Michael Reddan (Limerick) 
  49. 15:40/11:00 Patrick Brennan (Belvoir Park) Marc Nolan (Dun Laoghaire), Cian Feeney (Co Sligo) 
  50. 15:50/11:10 Michael Buggy (Castlecomer), Fergal O’Sullivan (Tralee), Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion).

Past winners

2017 James Sugrue, Mallow bt Conor O’Rourke, Naas 3/2

2016 Conor Purcell, Portmarnock bt Rowan Lester, Hermitage 4/3

2015 Stuart Grehan, Tullamore bt Colin Fairweather, Knock 4/3

2014 Stuart Bleakley, Shandon Park bt Darragh Coghlan, Portmarnock 3/2

2013 Simon Ward, Co Louth bt Paul O’Hara, Kilkenny 19th

2012 Pat Murray, Limerick bt Stephen Healy, Claremorris 2 holes

2011 Stephen Walsh, Baltinglass/UCD bt Andrew Hogan, Newlands 3/2

2010 John Greene, Carlow bt Kelan McDonagh Athlone/NUIM 2/1

2009 Robert Cannon, Laytown and Bettystown bt Gary O’Flaherty, Cork 4/3

2008 Niall Kearney, Royal Dublin bt Paul O’Hanlon, The Curragh 4/3

2007 Darren Crowe, Dunmurry bt Joe Lyons Galway 1 hole

2006 Simon Ward, Co Louth bt Darren Crowe, Dunmurry2/1

2005 Jim Carvill, Warrenpoint bt Darren Crowe, Dunmurry 2/1

2004 Cian McNamara, Limerick bt Greg Bowden, Hermitage 21st

2003 Mervyn Owens, Mallow bt Colm Moriarty, Athlone 1 hole

2002 Colm Moriarty, Athlone bt Sean McTernan, Co Sligo 19th

2001 Justin Kehoe, UCD/Birr bt Stephen Browne, Hermitage 6/4

2000 Graeme McDowell, Rathmore bt Ken Kearney, Galway 3/2

1999 Mark Campbell, UCD/Stackstown bt Peter Martin, Balmoral at 21st

1998 Johnny Foster, Ballyclare bt Andrew McCormick, Scrabo 2 holes

1997 Patrick Collier, Limerick bt Andrew McCormick, Scrabo 1 hole

1996 Adrian Morrow, Portmarnock bt Jody Fanagan, Milltown 2 holes

1995 Jody Fanagan, Milltown bt Padraig Harrington, Stackstown 1 hole

1994 David Higgins, Waterville bt Padraig Harrington, Stackstown 1 hole

1993 Peter Sheehan, Castletroy bt M O’Kelly, Limerick at 19th

1992 Liam MacNamara, Woodbrook bt Ken Kearney, Roscommon 2/1

1991 Paul McGinley, Grange bt P Johns, Sunshine 2/1

1990 Darren Clarke, Dungannon bt Jim Carvill, Warrenpoint 4/3

1989 S Keenan, Galway bt Jody Fanagan, Milltown at 22nd

1988 Mark A Gannon, Co. Louth bt Padraig F Hogan, Elm Park 3/2

1987 Barry V M Reddan, Co. Louth bt Mark A Gannon, Co. Louth at 20th

1986 John McHenry, Douglas bt Liam MacNamara, Woodbrook 3/2

1985 P O’Rourke, Kilkenny bt P Lyons, Nenagh 3/2

1984 N H Anderson, Shandon Park bt M F Morris, Portmarnock at 19th

1983 A C J Morrow, Portmarnock bt M Burns, Tramore 3/2

1982 M F Morris, Portmarnock bt C McCarroll, City of Derry 1 hole

1981 P O’Rourke, Kilkenny bt J J Carr, Sutton 2/1

1980 M Burns, Tramore bt M F Morris, Portmarnock 4/3

1979 Padraig O’Rourke, Kilkenny bt T Cleary, Fermoy 4/3

1978 Vincent Nevin, Limerick bt M Guerin, Killarney 2/1

1977 Liam MacNamara, Woodbrook bt M F Morris, Portmarnock 4/3

1976 Vincent Nevin, Limerick bt Pat Mulcare, Woodbrook 6/5

1975 BP Malone, Portmarnock bt M Skerritt, Lahinch 2 holes

1974 DC Long, Shandon bt R A Fleury, Portmarnock at 19th

1973 MA Gannon, Co. Louth bt DC Long, Shandon Park 1 hole

1972 R deL Staunton, Castlerea bt GA Young, Kilrush At 20th

1971 P Mulcare, Woodbrook bt E Higgins, Cork 1 hole

1970 JE O’Leary, Foxrock bt GA Young, Kilrush 1 hole

1969 JB Carr, Sutton bt GN Fogarty, Royal Dublin 2/1

1968 JD Smyth, Lahinch bt GA Young, Kilrush 3/2

1967 GN Fogarty, Royal Dublin bt S MacDonald, St.Andrews 3/2

1966 JB Carr, Sutton bt GA Young, Kilrush 1 hole

1965 R de L Staunton, Castlerea bt GA Young, Kilrush 5/3

1964 WA Kelleher, Douglas bt JM Nestor, Milltown 2/1

1963 M Guerin, Killarney bt DB Sheahan, Grange 2/1

1962 M Guerin, Killarney bt M Skerritt, Lahinch 4/3

1961 M Guerin, Killarney bt JL Bamford, Warrenpoint 7/6

1960 P Sullivan, Kinsale bt P Morrison, Oxford University 1 hole

1959 G Roberts, Southport & Ainsdale bt P Donnelly, Queen’s University 6/5

1958 JC Brown, Tramore bt G McGlennon, Lahinch 5/4

1957 PJ Leydon, Lahinch bt M Power, Muskerry 8/7

1956 PJ Leydon, Lahinch bt M Power, Muskerry 6/5

1955 PJ Leydon, Lahinch bt B Slattery, Lahinch 4/3

1954 P Bulger, Lahinch bt JP Mahon, Portmarnock 3/2

1953 PJ Leydon, Lahinch bt M Power, Muskerry 9/8

1952 M Power, Muskerry bt NV Drew, Bangor 1 hole

1951 G Gilligan, Limerick bt TW Egan, Monkstown 5/3

1950 M Power, Muskerry bt PJ Leydon, Lahinch 12/10

1949 JP Carroll, Sutton bt B Slattery, Lahinch 1 hole

1948 JB Carr, Sutton bt JP Carroll, Sutton 3/2

1947 B Slattery, Lahinch bt J Burke, Lahinch 6/5

1946 J Burke, Lahinch bt J B Carr, Sutton At 39th

1945 J Burke, Lahinch bt C Ewing, Co. Sligo 4/3

1944 J Burke, Lahinch bt J C Brown, Tramore 5/4

1943 J Burke, Lahinch bt B Slattery, Lahinch 1 hole

1942 J Burke, Lahinch bt R Garihy, Lahinch 8/7

1941 J Burke, Lahinch bt F Hannon, Lahinch 9/8

1940 P F Murray, Milltown bt J A English, Headford 8/7

1939 J Burke, Lahinch bt T Lenihan, Castle 6/4

1938 M O’Loughlin, Lahinch bt R M. Saunders, Lahinch 2/1

1937 M O’Loughlin, Lahinch bt D Torrens, Lahinch 2/1

1936 T F Ryan, Tipperary bt Redmond Simcox, Cork 4/3

1935 R M Saunders, Lahinch bt M Garrahey, Galway 4/2

1934 R M Saunders, Lahinch bt P F Murray, Milltown 3/1

1933 J C Brown, Tramore bt S W Martyn, Limerick 3/1

1932 J C Brown, Tramore bt S W Martyn, Limerick 4/3

1931 J Burke, Lahinch bt E Dwyer, Cork 10/8

1930 J Burke, Lahinch bt JC Browne, Tramore 6/5

1929 J Burke, Lahinch bt DF Sweeney, Galway 6/5

1928 J Burke, Lahinch bt DF Sweeney, Galway 6/5

1927 Redmond Simcox, Douglas bt WG McConnell, Royal Portrush 2/1

1926 Redmond Simcox, Douglas bt M Crowley, Portmarnock 5/4

1925 M Crowley, Portmarnock bt J Crabbe, Foxrock 5/4

1924 J Crabbe, Foxrock bt W G McConnell, Royal Portrush 2 holes

1923 F Murphy, Cork bt T M Healy, Royal Dublin 2/1

1921 F Murphy, Cork bt D D B Soulby, Portmarnock 1 hole

1920 E C Carter, Royal Portrush bt B J O’Brien, North West 10/9

1913 A W Murray, Purley Downs bt T S Jennings, Cork 2/1

1912 G V M Boyd, Portmarnock bt T S Jennings, Cork 1 hole

1911 L O Munn, North West bt J S Kennedy, Turnberry 7/5

1910 G R Girdlestone, Oswestry bt S H Fry, Mid Surrey 4/2

1909 J D Little, Burnisland bt C Taylor, Chislehurst 12/11

1908 A R Aitken, Prestwick bt Rev.P Gannon, United Service 10/8

1907 J J Hurley Manrihaniesh bt H D Gillies, Woking 4/2

1906 Lord Glenawly, Royal Co.Down bt A E Browning, Lahinch 10/8

1905 H Castle, Chiswick bt A C Lincoln, South Herts 5/3

1904 D Foster, Frinton bt H Castle, Chiswick 1 hole

1903 J B Ballingall, Blairgowrie bt J S Worthington, Royal Mid-Surrey 2/1

1902 W Ballingall, Royal & Ancient bt G S Browning, Lahinch 2/1

1901 W Dodd, Royal Liverpool bt S H Fry, Royal Mid-Surrey 2/1

1900 F Ballingall, Blairgowrie bt T Fullerton, Troon 5/4

1899 J R Gardiner, Richmond bt J Livingstone, Edinburgh Burgess 6/5

1898 F Ballingall, Blairgowrie bt H M Ballingall, Blairgowrie 3/1

1897 F Ballingall, Blairgowrie bt J R Gardiner, Richmond 2/1

1896 B O’Brien, Portsalon bt D M Wilson, Royal Dublin 9/7

1895 G S Browning, Lahinch bt W. F. McDonald, Limerick 2 /1