Yates and Kearney take prizes in TaylorMade Winter Series

Jonathan Yates. Picture by Pat Cashman

Jonathan Yates clinched his first win as a professional as Royal Dublin's Niall Kearney took the gross in the TaylorMade Winter Series at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links.

Both fired three-under 68s with Kearney going out in one-under par before making six threes in a homeward 33 by mixing bogeys at the 10th and 16th with birdies at the 12th, 14th, 15th and 18th holes.

Limerick's Tim Rice took the second gross with a level par 71, edging out Naas' Conor O’Rourke with a better back nine.

Out in one-under, Rice came home in one over par as he bogeys at the 10th, 12th and 17th erased birdies at the 13th and 14th. But that was still enough to pip O’Rourke, who was out two-under but had just one birdie at the 11th on the back against bogeys at the 12th, 14th and 17th.

Yates won the first nett with a three-under 68, going out in level par before coming back in an immaculate three-under with birdies at the 12th, 15th and 16th.

Brian Casey was second in the nett with a 69 with Royal Dublin's Barry Murphy third with a 70 off five with the highlight of his day a birdie at the 15th hole.

TaylorMade Winter Series, Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links (Par 71, SSS 73 CSS 75)

Nett

1, Jonathan Yates (Pro) Naas GC 68

2, Brian Casey (Pro) Unattached 69

3, Barry Murphy (5) Royal Dublin GC 70

Gross

1, Niall Kearney (Pro) Royal Dublin GC 68

2, Tim Rice (Pro) Limerick GC 71 (B9, 36)

3, Conor O’Rourke (Pro) Naas GC 71 (B9, 37)