The Hermitage's Dave Lowry survived miserable conditions to win the nett prize in the RaboDirect Hilary outing at Seapoint.

The three handicap Birr native shot a nett score of 72 on wet, cold and windy day as the Termonfeckin links showed its teeth with many competitors struggling in the difficult conditions.

Despite opening with a bogey at the relatively easy first hole, Lowry rallied well in the conditions and combined a sole birdie at the par-five 6th with a string of pars to win his maiden Hilary event from Royal Dublin's Darragh O'Malley. 

O' Malley made a bit of a mess of his penultimate hole with a card wrecking double bogey five but the conditions were such that it still left the six handicap Dollymount man in the runner up spot.

Another Royal Dublin member, Richard Knightly produced a splendid round of 72 to win the gross prize by some distance.

Knightly birdied his third hole and turned in one under 35 and while a birdie followed at the par-five 10th, a roller coaster ride to the clubhouse began.

In trouble off the tee at the downwind 11th, he carded a triple bogey seven but bounced back with a birdie at the difficult 12th.

Bogeys at the 13th and 15th were then offset with birdies at 14th and 16th before he closed with two pars.

RaboDirect Hilary Golf  Society at Seapoint

1st: D Lowry (The Heritage) (3) 72

Gross: R Knightly (Royal Dublin) 72

2nd: D O'Malley (Royal Dublin) (6) 74

Next outing, County Louth GC, Sunday March 23rd.