Bernard Quigley and John McDermott best at Portmarnock Links
Bernard Quigley
Professionals John McDermott and Bernard Quigley conquered winds gusting up to 30 mph to win the top prizes in Tuesday's TaylorMade Winter Series outing at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links.
Just over 80 players teed it up and while temperatures were between 15-17 degrees, a stiff breeze made for a challenging round.
Quigley made two birdies (second and 10th), two bogeys (fifth and 18th) and a double-bogey at the eighth in a two-over 73 to claim the nett by two strokes from Limerick's Tim Rice.
Rice bogeyed the first, third, sixth and 16th to win the second nett with a four-over 75 on a countback from professional Cian Geraghty, who is playing out of his home club of Laytown and Bettystown.
One-under after five holes thanks to a birdie at the fourth, he then bogeyed the sixth, seventh and ninth 12th hole and 13th but parred the last five holes for an excellent 75.
In the gross, Grange professional John McDermott shot 73 to win by a shot from amateur Keith Egan from Carton House and by two strokes from his brother and fellow Grange professional, Michael.
He mixed birdies at the par-five fourth and sixth and another at the eighth with bogeys at the second, fifth and ninth.
While he bogeyed the 10th and challenging 210-yard 17th, he won the gross by a shot from plus-three handicapper Egan, the Irish international.
Early bogeys at the fourth and fifth were cancelled out by back to back birdies at the seventh and eighth before bogeys at the 12th, 15th and 17th left him just outside.
Michael McDermott combined 12 pars with a birdie at the sixth and bogeys at the second, fourth, ninth, 11th and 18th for his 75 and third place in the gross.
TaylorMade Winter Series, 26 October, Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links (Par 71
Nett
Bernard Quigley (Pro) 73 Naas GC
Tim Rice (Pro) 75 Limerick Golf Club
Cian Geraghty (Pro) 75 Laytown & Bettystown
Gross
John McDermott (Pro) 73 Grange GC
Keith Egan (+3.1) 74 Carton House
Michael McDermott (Pro) 75 Grange GC
