Leading lights to shine in Killarney

Many of the country’s leading amateur golfers have signed up for the Killarney Scratch Cup, to be played over the Killeen Course on Saturday, July 21.

Those with long memories will recall the days when Killarney staged an inter-club Scratch Cup that attracted players from all over the country but it fell into abeyance in the 1980s. However, the event was revived as an individual tournament two years ago and Killarney secretary/manager Maurice O’Meara and tournament director James Ormonde, who is also the club vice-captain, are determined that it will again be regarded as one of the best events of its kind.

It is a big help in this aim that the Killeen layout has established itself as one of the best anywhere in the world, a reputation that was enhanced by the manner in which it hosted the Irish Open Championship in 2010 and 2011.

“We are very keen to raise the profile of the Scratch Cup at a time when the amateur game in Ireland is enjoying considerable success on the international stage,” said O’Meara last night.

“With the assistance of sponsors Killarney Plaza Hotel and Spa, we are in the happy position of being able to provide a handsome list of prizes and we also have a new trophy.”

James Ormonde is delighted with the quality of the entry: “Seventeen players boasting handicaps of scratch or better have entered and we are expecting much more of the same before entries close on Friday,” he said.

“Derek Byrne, a member of both Douglas and Killarney, will be back to defend his title and others likely to figure prominently are 2010 South of Ireland champion John Greene (Portmarnock), Brendan Walton (Island), Kieran Kennedy (Thurles), Kieran Hurley (Bandon) and Mark Shanahan (Castlemartyr). And yet, we are restricting the field to the lowest 75 handicaps and as entries to date amount to 118, the cut off mark is sure to be very low.”