Brabazon best at Portmarnock

David Brabazon drives on the third en route to victory in the Hilary outing at Pormarnock. Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ieDavid Brabazon cruised to a clear-cut victory in the RaboDirect Hilary outing at Portmarnock Golf Club last Friday.

The Balbriggan man had four shots to spare over his nearest rivals on what was a perfect day for scoring at the North Dublin links. 

Click here for a full photo gallery of the Royal Dublin outing

Brabazon, playing off a handicap of four, carded a one over par 73 gross on the Championship links, despite an early blemish at the difficult par-four fourth hole where he three-putted for a double bogey six.

Birdies at the fifth and ninth holes same him turn for home in level par 36 and while he bogeyed the challenging par-four 17th, a closing par left the rest of the field scrambling for the minor places.

Gus Fitzpatrick blasts out of a bunker at the second. Photo Jenny Matthews/www.golffile.ieBarry Morris from the neighbouring Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links was his nearest challenger and a closing back nine of 37 was enough to secure his second podium finish in the Hilary series, having earlier secured third spot in Seapoint.

On a day of light breezes, the Castle’s Jim Mulready played excellent golf to the gross prize with a splendid 73.

The big-hitting Senior Cup player carded birdies at the eighth and difficult 14th holes to offset bogeys at the 12th and 17th hole, where he found trouble off the tee

Royal Dublin’s Darragh O’Malley also shot a 73 to finish third, bouncing back from three bogeys around the turn with a strong finish.

In the Gold Medal category for the player with the best three nett scores in the series, Gus Fitzpatrick saw his lead cut to just two shots from nearest challenge Brabazon ahead of Friday’s final outing at Sutton

The Silver Medal Category for the best three gross scores is equally tight and looks like a straight fight between Irish Amateur Open Champion, Gavin Moynihan, and Hermitage scratch man Alan Dowling.

The Hilary will celebrate its 60th birthday in Sutton on Friday April 19th with a shotgun start at 2.15 pm followed by dinner and presentation of all prizes.

Hilary Golf Society at Portmarnock Golf Club, April 12

1st: David Brabazon (4) Balbriggan 69

2nd: Barry Morris (6) Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links 73

Gross: Jim Mulready (Castle) 73

3rd: Darragh O’Malley (5) Royal Dublin 73

Team: D Curran, G Cooke, R Gregan, E Kelly 63.

Next outing: Sutton, Friday 19 April (2.30 shotgun)