HISTORY – CASTLETROY
MEN’S SENIOR SCRATCH CUP
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.
2015 – to date MEN’S SENIOR SCRATCH CUP CHAMPIONS
2025 Champion: Mark Gazi, Tralee GC 141 (73, 68) & 4-hole playoff
2024 Champion: Paul O’Hanlon, Carton House GC 139 (71,68) & 3-hole playoff
2023 Champion: David Kitt, Athenry GC 137 (66, 71)
2022 Champion Simon Walker, Roscommon GC 136 (67, 69)
2021 Champion: Rob Moran, Castle GC 139 (67, 72)
2020 – No Tournament due to Covid 19
2019 Champion: James Sugrue, Mallow GC 139 (68,71)
2018 Champion: Jason Tobin, Castletroy GC 144 (75,69)
2017 Champion: James Sugrue, Mallow GC 141 (72, 69)
2016 Champion: Gary Flaherty, Cork GC 141 (71, 70)
2015 Champion: Pat Murray, Limerick GC 145
SEVEN x GB&I WALKER CUP REPRESENTATIVES WHO HAVE WON THE TROPHY
John Burke – 1950
Jimmy Bruen – 1952
Max McCread – 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
WOMEN’S SENIOR SCRATCH CUP CHAMPIONS
FROM 2023
2025 Champion: Olivia Costello, Roscommon GC 73 + 70 – 143 (-5 under par)
o Triple A U-21 World Series Champion, 2025
o 4-time KPMG Women’s Irish Open Participant – (Professional event)
o Irish High-Performance Panel
o Irish Home Internationals Team, 2025
o Woodbrook Women’s Scratch Cup Champion, 2025
o Runner-Up – Spanish Women’s Amateur Championship, 2025
o Irish international, 2024
o Irish Girls International, 2023, 2024 & 2025
o Scottish Open Girls Champion, 2023
2024 Champion: Emma O’Driscoll, Ballybunion GC 70 Gross (-4 under par)
o European Mid-Amateur Championships Team, 2024, 2025
o Irish Girls International
o Irish Woman’s International
o Irish Girls Close Championship: 2009
o Leinster Girls Championship: 2009
o Connaught Girls Championship: 2008, 2009
o Leinster Ladies Championship: 2013
o Irish Colleges Strokeplay (Ladies): 2013
o Munster Interprovincial
2023 Champion: Karen O’Neill, Douglas GC 73 Gross (-1 under par)
o Munster Interprovincial Team, 2024, 2025
o Runner-Up, Leinster Women’s Championship, 2025
o Irish Womens’s Senior Cup Champions, 2025 – (with Douglas GC)
