HISTORY
CASTLETROY MEN’S CUP SENIOR SCRATCH – THE MAJOR HK MURRAY TROPHY
The Castletroy Senior Scratch Cup, first played for in 1948, is the oldest, continuously run scratch cup that is still being played for in Ireland, not to mention one of the most prestigious and sough after. In the 1940s, Castletroy members, Major Ronnie Deakin and Major Kingston Murray decided that an annual scratch cup should be played at Castletroy and that it should be open to all golfers up to a maximum of 7 handicap. Major Deakin was a scratch golfer while Major Murray, was a single-digit handicapper. Each represented the club in Senior Cup. These days, the handicap range to qualify for the draw for play for a starting field of 72 golfers, tends to land between +4.0 WHS and 1.4 WHS .
“Mashie” Murray, as he was known, had an impressive silver trophy bearing the Munster coat of arms which he had won at a point-to-point meeting and donated it to the club for a Scratch Cup which was first played on the 3rd July 1948. In the 50s, 60s, 70s and into the 80s, large crowds gathered each May to see many of Ireland’s top amateurs compete over 36 holes for this beautiful trophy. It was a great sight to see crowds following golfing greats like Jimmy Bruen and Joe Carr who both had an aura of invincibility about them once they stepped on to the golf course.
The quality of former champions is exemplified by a unique roll of honour containing seven GB&I Walker Cup representatives – John Burke, Jimmy Bruen, Max McCready, JB Carr, Tom Craddock, Dr David Sheahan and James Sugrue plus future winners in the professional ranks, Liam Higgins, Des Smyth, Denis O’Sullivan and Rob Moran. Three-time Irish Close Champion, Eddie Power won the event in 1992, while Irish Internationals and proven championship winners such as Tom Corridon (3-time champion) and Mick Power have also won it.
Well-known winners from our neighbours at Limerick GC include Irish Internationals, Jackie Harrington and Vincent Nevin, as well as Ivan Morris, Billy Rice and Michael O’Kelly. Home club winners from Castletroy GC feature, Nicholas Hayes, Paddy O’Looney, Tom Corridon, John Kavanagh, Peter Sheehan, Eamon Haugh and Jason Tobin. In recent times, prominent Irish international golfers such as Eddie McCormack, Pat Murray, Gary O’Flaherty, James Sugrue, Rob Moran David Kitt and Paul O’Hanlon have added their names to the list of winners. Since 2021, the competition has been generously sponsored by Trade Electric Group and the Costelloe family.
HISTORY
CASTLETROY WOMEN’S CUP SENIOR SCRATCH
(Coming Soon)
Notable Winners of Previous Scratch Cups
SEVEN x GB&I WALKER CUP REPRESENTATIVES WHO HAVE WON THE TROPHY:
- John Burke – 1950
- Jimmy Bruen – 1952
- Max McCready – 1958
- JB Carr – 1961 & 1967
- Tom Craddock – 1964 & 1969
- Dr David Sheahan – 1966 & 1973
- James Sugrue – 2017 & ’19 –
IRISH CLOSE CHAMPIONS WHO HAVE WON AT CASTLETROY
- 2024 – Paul O’Hanlon, Grange GC
- 2023 – Rob Moran, Castle GC,
- 2015 – Pat Murray, Limerick GC
- 1988, ’90 & ’95 – Tommy Corridon, Ballybunion,
- 1991 – Denis O’Sullivan, Cork GC,
- 1976 & ‘78 – Jackie Harrington, Limerick GC
- 1965 & 1975 – Vincent Nevin, Limerick GC
- 1954 – Michael Power, Muskerry GC
- 8 x time winner of Irish Close – John Burke
- 6 x time winner of Irish Close – Joe Barr
- 3 x time winner of Irish Close – Eddie Power
- 2 x time winner of Irish Close – Jimmy Bruen
THREE TIME WINNERS AT CASTLETROY GC
- Liam Higgins, Cork GC and Muskerry GC – 1969, ’70 & ‘71
- Vincent Nevin, Limerick GC – 1965, ’75 & ‘77
- G.I. Morris, Limerick GC – 1974, ’80 & ‘85
- Tommy Corridon, Castletroy GC (also Ballybunion) 1988, ’90 & ’95
- Peter Sheehan, Castletroy GC – 1999, ’02 & ’03
- John Kavanagh, Castletroy – 1998, ’02 & ’09
TWO TIME WINNERS AT CASTLETROY GC :
- J Fitzgibbon, Cork – 1955 & ’56
- Noel Hayes, Castletroy – 1959 & ’60
- Niall Gorey, Muskerry GC – 2010 & ‘14
Most Recent Winners of Scratch Cups
WOMEN’S SENIOR SCRATCH CUP CHAMPIONS
FROM 2023
2025 Champion: Olivia Costello, Roscommon GC 73 + 70 – 143 (-5 under par)
- Triple A U-21 World Series Champion, 2025
- 4-time KPMG Women’s Irish Open Participant – (Professional event)
- Irish High-Performance Panel
- Irish Home Internationals Team, 2025
- Woodbrook Women’s Scratch Cup Champion, 2025
- Runner-Up – Spanish Women’s Amateur Championship, 2025
- Irish international, 2024
- Irish Girls International, 2023, 2024 & 2025
- Scottish Open Girls Champion, 2023
2024 Champion: Emma O’Driscoll, Ballybunion GC 70 Gross (-4 under par)
- European Mid-Amateur Championships Team, 2024, 2025
- Irish Girls International
- Irish Woman’s International
- Irish Girls Close Championship : 2009
- Leinster Girls Championship: 2009
- Connaught Girls Championship: 2008, 2009
- Leinster Ladies Championship: 2013
- Irish Colleges Strokeplay(Ladies): 2013
- Munster Interprovincial
2023 Champion: Karen O’Neill, Douglas GC 73 Gross (-1 under par)
- Munster Interprovincial Team, 2024, 2025
- Runner-Up, Leinster Women’s Championship, 2025
- Irish Women’s Senior Cup Champions, 2025 – (with Douglas GC)
2015 – to date MEN’S SENIOR SCRATCH CUP CHAMPIONS
2025 Champion: Mark Gazi, Tralee GC 141 (73, 68) & 4-hole playoff
- Northwestern University Golf Roster, Illinois, USA – 2023 – to date
- Irish Boys International 2023
- McGregor Trophy Winner, Sherwood GC, 2022
- Irish Underage High-Performance Panel, 2021
2024 Champion: Paul O’Hanlon, Carton House GC 139 (71,68) & 3-hole playoff
- GUI Mullingar Scratch Trophy Winner, 2007
- Irish Amateur Close Champion, 2008
- East of Ireland Champion, 2016
- Irish Mid-Amateur Champion, 2021
- Leinster Interprovincial
- Irish International Golfer
- Former Touring Professional
2023 Champion: David Kitt, Athenry GC 137 (66, 71)
- 75th Anniversary Castletroy Men’s Senior Scratch Cup
- Maynooth Golf Scholar
- Connacht Interprovincial
- R&A Student Series Order of Merit Winner – 2022
- Irish High Performance Panel
- Arnold Palmer Cup International Team – 2022
2022 Champion Simon Walker, Roscommon GC 136 (67, 69)
- Leinster Boys Amateur Open Champion, 2019
- Maynooth Golf Scholar
- Connacht Interprovincial
- Men’s Irish Intervarsity Champion – 2024
2021 Champion: Rob Moran, Castle GC 139 (67, 72)
- Leinster Interprovincial
- Ulster Strokeplay Champion – 2021
- North of Ireland Men’s Amateur Open Champion 2023
- Irish Amateur Close Champion, 2023
- Irish International Golfer
- Alps Tour Professional, since 2023
2020 – No Tournament due to Covid 19
2019 Champion: James Sugrue, Mallow GC 139 (68,71)
- Munster Youths Champion, 2014
- Munster Interprovincial
- South Of Ireland Men’s Amateur Champion, 2019
- Irish International Golfer
- British Amateur Open Champion, 2019
- Walker Cup Player, 2019
- Touring Professional since 2021
2018 Champion: Jason Tobin, Castletroy GC 144 (75,69)
- Munster Interprovincial Youth Team 2007 & 2008
2017 Champion: James Sugrue, Mallow GC 141 (72, 69)
- As per 2019
2016 Champion: Gary Flaherty, Cork GC 141 (71, 70)
- Munster Interprovincial Golfer
- Irish Mid-Amateur Champion, 2014 & 2016
- Munster Mid-Amateur Champion, 2011 & 2018
- Multiple Senior Scratch Cup Winner
- Irish Boys & Irish Youths International Golfer
2015 Champion: Pat Murray, Limerick GC 145
- Munster Mid-Amateur Champion – ’08, ’09. ’10, ‘15 & 2017
- South Of Ireland Men’s Amateur Champion, 2012
- Irish Close Amateur Champion, 2009
- Irish Senior Men’s Amateur Close Champion, 2022
- Munster Interprovincial
- Irish International Golfer
- Multiple Senior Scratch Cup Winner