Hall and O'Keeffe beat 70kph winds at Portmarnock Links

Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links

Ger Hall defied 70 kph winds to birdie the last and win the second TaylorMade Winter Series outing of the season at Portmarnock Links.

The Edenderry Golf Academy professional topped a 62-strong field that at least enjoyed blue skies and balmy temperatures, carding a three-over 74 to win the nett by a shot from Portmarnock Links' four-handicapper Eamonn Keane.

Out in three-over, Hall bogeyed the 15th but then birdied the last to record a best-of-the-day 74 and pip Keane as Naas' David Marshall finished third with a 76 off three.

Douglas international Peter O'Keeffe won the gross with a four-over 75, pipping Roganstown professional Brendan Walton by one stroke.

Playing off plus four, O'Keeffe sandwiched a birdie four at the sixth between bogeys at the second and ninth to go out in one-over before dropping shots at the 12th, 13th and 15th as he came home into the teeth of the wind.

Walton went out in four over par by following a bogey at the second with a bogey-double bogey-bogey run into the wind at the eighth, ninth and 10th.

Another bogey followed on the 12th hole but he dug deep and went birdie-bogey-birdie from the 14th to the 16th before finishing with a couple of pars.

Portmarnock Links' Declan O'Neill was third with a gross 76

Players teeing it up next week will receive a free sleeve of TaylorMade TP5 balls.

TaylorMade Winter Series, Portmarnock Links

(Par 71; SSS 75; CSS 78)

Nett

1st Ger Hall (Pro) Edenderry Golf Academy 74

2nd Eamonn Keane (4) The Links Portmarnock 75

3rd David Marshall (3) Naas 76

Gross

1st Peter O'Keeffe (+4) Douglas 75

2nd Brendan Walton (Pro) Roganstown 76

3rd Declan O'Neill (Scratch) The Links Portmarnock 76