Galgorm Castle’s Michael Dallat and Castle’s Ross McKeever claimed the top prizes in the opening TaylorMade sponsored Tuesday Winter Series event at Portmarnock Links.

No fewer than 73 players from as far afield as Cork, Donegal, Fermanagh and Antrim made their way to the Bernhard Langer designed links for a new winter season that will feature Orders of Merit for both professionals and amateurs with the overall winners decided by a player’s top six finishes.

Playing off two, McKeever opened with a bogey but bounced back with five birdies and just two more bogeys as he fired a fine 67 in tough, breezy conditions to win the nett prize by four shots from Portmarnock Links’ Mike Brennan (4) and Dundalk’s Andrew Keenan.

Dallat kept a six off his card and weighed in with seven 3’s for a two-under-par 69 gross and a two-stroke win from Delgany professional Mark Staunton, who edged out Castlewarden’s Mark Whelan on countback for second place.

Portmarnock Links greenkeeper Michael Brennan used his intimate knowledge of the course to his advantage as he shot a fine 71 while Forrest Little’s Julie McCarthy had a 77 off plus one.

Tuesday Winter Series, Portmarnock Links (Par 71) sponsored by TaylorMade, October 3

Nett

1. Ross McKeever (2) Castle 67
2. Mike Brennan (4) The Links Portmarnock 71 (B9, 33)
3. Andrew Keenan (3) Dundalk 71 (B9, 34)

Gross

1. Michael Dallat (Galgorm Castle) 69
2. Mark Staunton (Delgany) 71 (B9: 33)
3. Mark Whelan (Castlewarden) 72

• Men: Par 71 SSS 75 CSS 75
• Ladies: Par 71 SSS 73 CSS 73