Grange men get hot at freezing Portmarnock Links
Michael McDermott
Grange's Roy Connelly and club professional Michael McDermott warmed up nicely after a two-hour frost delay to win prizes in the TaylorMade Winter Series at Portmarnock Links.
To give everyone in the 88-strong field a game, 40 players went off on the front nine in a shotgun start, and while European Tour player Niall Kearney shot a three-over 74 featuring five bogeys and two birdies, the top-class field produced some impressive golf.
West of Ireland champion Hugh Foley, now playing off plus six, was one of 16 plus handicappers among the 53 amateurs who teed it up.
But the top nett went to Beech Park's Chris Broe, who carded a nett 69 off six to win the best nett by a shot from Fota Island's Barry Doyle and two strokes from Grange scratch man Connolly.
Broe was one-over after six but then tripled the seventh and bogeyed the eighth to turn in five-over before storming home in one-under as he followed birdies at the15th and 16th with a bogey at the last.
Grange professional McDermott matched Broe's 69 to win the best gross by a shot from Dundalk professional Leslie Walker and two shots from Monkstown professional Shane Irwin.
Out in two-over as he bogeyed the first, fourth and seventh and birdied the par-five sixth, McDermott got to work on the back nine knocking in birdies at the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th before parring his way home.
Walker started with two birdies, bogeyed the fourth and fifth but then birdied the seventh before reeling off nine pars on the back nine for his 70.
It was a score matched by Fota Island member Doyle, who played off seven on the day and made birdies at the second and fourth in an excellent round.
Monkstown professional Irwin took the third gross with a level par 71, mixing bogeys at the seventh and 10th with birdies at the 11th and 15th in a consistent round.
Playing off one, Connolly also shot a level par 71 nett featuring birdies at the first, the index one 12th and the 16th.
TaylorMade Winter Series, Portmarnock Links (Par 71) January 18
Nett
Christopher Broe (4.5) Beech Park GC 69
Barry Doyle (5.1) Fota Island 70
Roy Connolly (0.0) Grange GC 71
Gross
Michael McDermott (Pro) Grange 69
Leslie Walker (Pro) Dundalk GC 70
Shane Irwin (Pro) Monkstown GC 71
January 25 -- Fully booked. Timesheets are open for February.
