Golfer Daniel Brenan from Shannon wins the Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup

Daniel Brenan from Shannon won the Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup on Sunday after an impressive comeback on the back nine. 

While many were watching Shane Lowry triumph over the links and the opposition in Doonbeg, there was a more exciting finish in Muskerry as one of the last senior scratch cups of the year was up for grabs.

Muskerry went for a 54 hole event over two days this year, and the organisers worked hard to assemble an impressive field. 

70 golfers teed it up on Saturday morning and it was Brennan who led the field at lunchtime after shooting a flawless five under par 64 on the Bruen course. 

He had a two shot advantage over David Reddan and James Murray with a number of players on one under.

Robbie Walsh produced a blistering 63 on Saturday afternoon which included three birdie and an eagle before the turn. 

He added one more birdie on the 14th to sign for a six under which was the low score of the tournament.

Unfortunately for Walsh, the morning leader added a 66 to retain his position on top of the leaderboard. 

Reddan signed for 65 to narrow the lead to one shot going into the final round. The cut for the top 30 fell at +7 proving that Muskerry provided a tough test on Saturday.

The leader didn’t have it all his own way on Sunday. He had three bogies on the front nine, and Reddan went out in one over to lead on the course by one shot with just nine holes to go. 

That lead increased to two after Reddan birdied the 10th hole.

Brennan however wasn’t finished and the Shannon man nailed three birdies in a row from the 12th to the 14th to regain his lead. 

He led by one playing the 18thfor the final time, and a bogey from Reddan meant the winning margin was two shots. 

Jamie Sharpe took third place on -4 and Robbie Walsh and Ronan Twomey were next best on -2. Luke McCann and James Murray were the only other golfers to finish under par for their 54 holes.

The event was sponsored by Solar Hill energy, and the late date in the season seems to have worked well to attract a large field of top local amateurs. 

There was no less than six previous winners in the field, all hoping to add their name again to the prestigious roll of honour. Ronan Twomey, Peter O’Keeffe, David O’Donovan, Adrian O’Sullivan, Fionn Hickey and John Waldron. 

Of those, 2024 and 2009 winner Ronan Twomey was the only one to finish in the prizes in 5th place while Peter O’Keeffe who won in 2019 was 9th.

There have only been three winners from outside the county of Cork. 

They were Castletroy’s John Kavanagh in 1997, Eddie Power from Tramore in 1992 and Adare’s Jackie Harrington back in 1980. Several golfers have won it multiple times but Tom Cleary is out on his own having won it six times from 1976 through to 2010.

This was the second of four scratch cups to be held in a few weeks. Two weeks ago Mallow held their senior scratch cup with Youghal’s Caolan Coleman winning the Dan Butler Memorial Cup. 

Caelan produced two rounds of 73 & 69 for a 36-hole total of 142 to take the title.

This weekend Fermoy will host the annual John Whyte Memorial Senior Scratch Cup. The 18 hole competition takes place on Saturday, entry is just €30 and the competition is sponsored by RBC Brewin Dolphin. 

Doneraile will hold their senior scratch cup on Sunday 27th September. Entry is €30 and the shot gun start tee’s off at 9.30am.

David Howard continued his incredible year by helping Ireland to victory at the European Mid-Amateur championships in Astria last week. 

Howard was 4th in the Strokeplay qualifier, helping Ireland into top place and had a win and a half in the semi-final against Finland. 

They faced the hosts Austria in the final and although Howard lost in the morning foursomes, he won in the afternoon singles. 

His win on the 17th green was the winning 3rd point for Ireland as they took the title.

Howard was on the team that reached the semi-finals last year in Spain, and Howard’s win in Austria is the second European title that he has won this summer. 

He was also on the Irish team that won the European Men’s team championship in Estonia in July.