Murphy wins weather-shortened Munster Students Championship

Murphy wins weather-shortened Munster Students Championship
Jim Long, Chairman Munster Golf presenting the Munster Students Championship Trophy to John Murphy (Kinsale/Maynooth University), also included is Dave Prendergast, Match Secretary Munster Golf. Picture: Niall O'Shea

Jim Long, Chairman Munster Golf presenting the Munster Students Championship Trophy to John Murphy (Kinsale/Maynooth University), also included is Dave Prendergast, Match Secretary Munster Golf. Picture: Niall O'Shea

Maynooth University's John Murphy claimed the Munster Students Championship after the final round was cancelled due to bad weather.

Snow and heavy rain made Cork Golf Club unplayable on Wednesday and Murphy’s rounds of 70 and 68 gave him an impressive four-shot win on six-under-par 138 from James McVicker (Knock), Cathal Butler (Kinsale) and holder Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little), who finished second, third and fourth respectively on two-under 142.

“It feels good, it’s a great start to the year,” said Murphy, who won the Munster Boys last year and plans to make his West of Ireland debut next month.

“It’s a long season, so it’s a confidence boost to get an early win."

The Heath's Mary Doyle carded rounds of 71 and 75 to win the women's event by six strokes on two under par 146 from Ballinrobe's Shannon Burke (74-78) with Elm Park's Rachel McDonnell (75-78) a shot further back in third.

The Maynooth Scholars “B” line-up of Eanna Griffin, Cathal Butler and Kyle McCarron took the team prize.

Murphy was delighted to get his first win of the year as he prepares for a busy season.

"I’m playing in St Andrew’s next week for the Bursar’s Tournament and then I’m playing in London in the Berkhamsted Trophy," he said.  "After that I’m off to the West of Ireland, it’s my first time playing in that so I’m looking forward to the challenge.  

"It’s busy but I’m looking forward to these events as my game is in good shape.”

The next event on the Munster calendar is the Munster Boys Under 16 Championship, which takes place in Blarney Golf Club on 10th & 11th April.

Munster StudentsChampionship, Cork Golf Club (Par 71)

Final scores - round 3 abandoned

Detailed scores

138 J Murphy (Kinsale), 70, 68

142 J McVicker (Knock), 74, 68; C Butler (Kinsale), 74, 68; J Mc Donnell (Forrest Little), 70, 72

144 G Carr (Mullingar), 75, 69; R Mullarney (Galway), 74, 70; S Desmond (Monkstown), 73, 71; K McCarron (Maynooth Scholars (b)), 72, 72; P Cummins (Lurgan), 71, 73; S Greenberg (Tandragee), 69, 75; D Foy (Laytown & Bettystown), 69, 75

145 C Woodroofe (Dun Laoghaire), 75, 70; E Griffin (Waterford), 74, 71

146 W Small (Tandragee), 75, 71

147 H Foley (The Royal Dublin), 76, 71; B Murray (Waterford Castle), 76, 71; H O'Hare (Fortwilliam), 72, 75

148 J Sugrue (Mallow), 76, 72

149 T Collins (Dun Laoghaire), 78, 71; M McCormack (Ashbourne), 77, 72

150 R Brazill (Naas), 79, 71; C Nolan (Galway), 76, 74; J Howard (Fota Island), 76, 74; D Hourihan (Douglas), 75, 75; R Dutton (Tandragee), 75, 75

151 N McCann (Lurgan), 80, 71; B Doran (Baltinglass), 78, 73; G Ward (Kinsale), 76, 75

152 E Goggin (Mallow), 78, 74; C Melvin (Corrstown), 77, 75; S Flanagan (Co. Sligo), 75, 77

153 O Crooks (Bushfoot), 80, 73; B Lawlor (Ardee), 75, 78; J Quinn (The Island), 74, 79; C Bolger (Carlow), 74, 79

154 S Carroll (Ballybunion), 79, 75; R Steedman (Courtown), 79, 75; M McKenna (DIT (B)), 79, 75; E O'Brien (Clontarf), 76, 78; E Collins (Laytown & Bettystown), 75, 79

CUT

155 A Riordan (Blarney), 84, 71; R Dineen (Cork), 81, 74; T Ford (Co. Sligo), 80, 75; M Kennelly (Athenry), 79, 76;

156 L Grehan (Mullingar), 83, 73; D Brady (Co. Sligo), 81, 75; A McSweeney (Douglas), 80, 76; A Crowley (The Island), 80, 76; M Healy (Kinsale), 77, 79;

157 M O'Farrell (Galway), 82, 75;

158 J O'Neill (Tralee), 85, 73; J McCarthy (Stackstown), 83, 75; E Rumley (Kinsale), 83, 75; D Howard (Fota Island), 82, 76; A Comerford (NUIG (a)), 80, 78; O Fleming (Dun Laoghaire), 80, 78; T Coakley (Bantry Bay), 77, 81; A Ryan (Thurles), 77, 81; J Cleary (Elm Park), 77, 81;

160 C Feeney (Co. Sligo), 80, 80; A Magee (Powerscourt), 80, 80;

161 L Cummins (West Waterford), 80, 81; W Byrne (Baltinglass), 77, 84;

162 P Kelly (Glasson), 85, 77; M Mc Gurk (Warrenpoint), 85, 77; C Roche (Mallow), 83, 79; C Spicer (Dromoland), 77, 85;

163 K McDermott (Highfield), 87, 76; D Flynn (Carton House), 85, 78; C Guiller (Cairndhu), 85, 78; J Boylan (Douglas), 79, 84;

164 C O'Carroll (Charleville), 86, 78;

165 J Lawlor (Naas), 87, 78;

166 M Shiel (Athenry), 87, 79; B Murray (Waterford Castle), 82, 84;

167 D Devlin (Fota Island), 89, 78;

169 P Jordan (Lurgan), 88, 81; J Alton (Slievenamon), 83, 86;

171 D O'Sullivan  (Monkstown), 89, 82; D O' Brien (Millicent), 86, 85

DQ J Hood (Galgorm Castle); S Burke (Galway) RTD C Moloney (Fota Island) DQ C Harte (Castle)

WD/NR J Grant  (DIT (B)); F Geary (Ballybunion); A Lennie (Clandeboye); P Twohig (Fota Island); K Lynch (Skibbereen); D Herlihy (West Waterford) NR G Young (Nenagh) WD R Calnan (Lee Valley)

RTD J O'Flynn (Cork)

Ladies

146 M Doyle (The Heath), 71, 75

152 S Burke (Ballinrobe), 74, 78

153 R Mc Donnell (Elm Park), 75, 78

154 G McGrath (East Cork), 78, 76

155 M Dowling (Lucan), 77, 78

157 M Doyle (Portarlington), 81, 76

159 C Walsh (Castlewarden), 80, 79

MC C Hewitt (Courtown), 81, 81; C Leonard (Mitchelstown), 81, 87; A Ni Thuama (Douglas), 81, 87

Teams

285 Maynooth Scholars (b), 146, 139

286 Ulster (a), 143, 143

287 Maynooth University Club (a), 145, 142

298 Maynooth Women's, 145, 153

291 UCC (a), 149, 142

292 Maynooth Scholars (a), 149, 143

296 University of Limerick, 147, 149

304 IT Carlow (b), 152, 152; UCD (a), 158, 146

309 UCD (b), 152, 157

305 NUI Galway (a), 155, 150

307 DCU, 149, 158

313 CIT (c), 161, 152; UCC (b), 154, 159

322 UCC (c), 159, 163

315 Maynooth University Club (b), 162, 153

317 CIT (a), 160, 157

319 CIT (d), 167, 152; NUI Galway (b), 169, 150

333 CIT (b), 172, 161

340 IT Carlow (a), 169, 171