Grehan and Weldon tops at Portmarnock Links
Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links
Black Bush professional Rick Weldon and Mullingar's Liam Grehan took the top prizes in the TaylorMade Winter Series at Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links.
Out in two-over-par, as he followed an opening birdie with bogeys at the fifth, eighth and ninth, Weldon came home in one over par by following a double-bogey at the 13th for a 74 and the best nett in the 80-strong field.
The stiff southerly wind proved testing, but Steven Quinlan also managed a three-over 74 to take the second nett as he went out in one-over and came home in two-over thanks to a birdie at the last.
Wexford's Nicolas Spithas carded a nine-over 80 off five to take the third nett with an excellent 75 that was the paragon of perseverance.
He had four double bogeys on the front nine - 1st, 4th, 5th and 7th — as well as a bogey on the third. But he improved by ten strokes on the back nine, coming home in level par as he mixed bogeys at the 11th and 17th with birdies at the 16th and 18th.
In the gross, Grehan carded a two-over 73 to win by a shot from Athenry's Allan Hill and by two strokes from Portmarnock Links' Brendan Walton.
Out in two-over after starting with a double bogey on the first hole, Grehan made his second double bogey of the round on the par-three 11th hole but then made a run of four threes in five holes with birdies at the 14th, 15th and 18th cancelling out a bogey at the 16th.
Hill turned in five-over-par but played the back nine in two-under as he combined seven with birdies at the 15th and 17th in the last group of the day.
Walton featured in the prizes yet again thanks to some excellent driving.
Out in three-over-par, he came home in one-over, almost holing his tee shot on the 11th before following bogeys at the 13th and 15th with three pars for his 75.
Each player received a complimentary sleeve of TaylorMade TP5's from the sponsor.Each player received a complimentary sleeve of TaylorMade TP5's from the sponsor.
TaylorMade Winter Series, Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links (Par 71, SSS 75, CSS 77)
Nett
Rick Weldon (Pro) Black Bush 74;
Steven Quinlan (Pro) SQ Golf 74;
Nicolas Spithas (5) Wexford GC 75.
Gross
Liam Grehan (+2) Mullingar GC 73;
Allan Hill (+2) Athenry GC 74;
Brendan Walton (Pro) Portmarnock Links 75.
